Flappers
in the 1920's
"Dear Parents..."
I want to beg all you parents, and grandparents, and friends, and teachers, and preachers--you who constitute the "older generation"--to overlook our shortcomings, at least for the present, and to appreciate our virtues. I wonder if it ever occurred to any of you that it required brains to become and remain a successful flapper? Indeed it does! It requires an enormous amount of cleverness and energy to keep going at the proper pace. It requires self- knowledge and self analysis. We must know our capabilities and limitations. We must be constantly on the alert. Attainment of flapperhood is a big and serious undertaking!
Think back to the time when you were struggling through the teens. Remember how spontaneous and deep were the joys, how serious and penetrating the sorrows. Most of us, under the present system of modern education, are further advanced and more thoroughly developed mentally, physically, and vocationally than were our parents at our age. We hold the infinite possibilities of the myriads of new inventions within our grasp. We have learned to take for granted conveniences, and many luxuries, which not so many years ago were as yet undreamed of. We are in touch with the whole universe. We have a tremendous problem on our hands. You must help us. Give us confidence--not distrust. Give us practical aid and advice--not criticism. Praise us when praise is merited. Be patient and understanding when we make mistakes.
We are the Younger Generation. The war tore away our spiritual foundations and challenged our faith. We are struggling to regain our equilibrium. The times have made us older and more experienced than you were at our age. It must be so with each succeeding generation if it is to keep pace with the rapidly advancing and mighty tide of civilization. Help us to put our knowledge to the best advantage. Work with us! That is the way! Outlets for this surplus knowledge and energy must be opened. Give us a helping hand.
Causes That Led to the Flappers
Prohibition was also a factor in causing this new image. Making it illegal to sell, make, and transport alcohol didn't stop people from drinking. In fact, it only caused people to drink more because they found it thrilling and exciting. Flappers wanted to do everything possible to defy and rebel against the older generation, and what better way to do just that than to go to speakeasies and drink with the men?
In order to support the war, women had to give up wearing corsets, that were made from steel, and give it to the military. This action gave women an incite to their future. By getting rid of the corsets, women were able to breath and walk again, and the Flapper took full advantage of this. After the war was over, the nation tried to return to normal but both men and women had broken through barriers which made it hard to return to normalcy.
The older generation was full of proper edicate and good girl behavior but this doesn't mean that that was the best was to live life for this new generation. The drastic change in behavior and fashion was caused by multiple events including World War I ending, prohibition, equality, and the idea of living life to the fullest no matter the consequences.
War was probably the leading factor that caused this new way of life for this generation. Before the 1920's men were off fighting in the war, where there was heartless killing, warfare, and no women. At that time, during the war, many men didn't believe that they would be returning home to their loved ones. However, once the men did return, they did everything possible to make up for lost time with their wives and girlfriends. With a whole generation of young men lost to war, the men and women didn't want to waste time. They wanted to be young and have fun because they knew that they needed; they needed to "always be ready for everything in life, because life is too short and we don't have time to practice everything before it happens." By fighting in the war, these people knew that their lives could be over at any moment. Therefore they should live their lives to the fullest no matter the consequences, for tomorrow they could be dead.
Equality was also a major cause for the push of the new woman. Before the Flappers, women were perceived to be weak and helpless. Women were tired of this; they did everything they could to ensure that men would no longer see them as separate, lesser human beings. With this idea in mind, women now worked jobs, voted, smoked, drank, and danced, all the same as a man.
