The expansion of the 1920's was rather the growth of the women's movement than any other groups rights. The woman's suffrage was the centre of change; their female acceptance of themselves as workers, voters, socialites and mothers, to the radical idea of how a woman views sex. The age of the Suffragettes lead by such key figures as Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul in the 1900's, inspired women to consider their role of voter in American Society. With the 19th Amendment passed on August 26th 1920, the age of the 'Flapper', an independent, youthful, rebellious and sexual woman emerged. The 'bobbed hair' noted by Mary Garden revealed a 'a progressive step... in keeping the inner spirit that animates my whole existence' perhaps linking back to the 19th amendment. The 'non-maternal' appearance sparked female change within advertisements, magazines, dance and culture. This change in a woman's movement after they were given the 19th amendment was never seen before in America's female history. Noted by historian Sara M. Evans, such groups as the League of Women Voters (formally NAWSA) andThe National Women's Party attempted to continue to support women who were choosing to work in the workplace as it signified new opportunities for the 'new' woman. However, this was strongly situated to the 'white' woman. As it had become law for women to vote, the emergence of a sexual revolution had followed. Such radical ideas as Marie Stopes' 'Married Love' and Mary Sanger's calling toward birth control, revealed the new woman as one to be open about sex, not to be the image of a maternal, continuous child-bearing mother anymore.
It is known that during the 1920s America witnessed the expansion of rights for white women. The continued fight for sexual rights after the granting of suffrage in 1920 was a key indicator of the successes of the women's movement in the 1920s. Women such as Carrie Chapman Catt (NAWSA) and Alice Paul (NWP) had fought hard to gain the right to vote, and women such as Marie Stopes and Margaret Sanger continued this fight by upholding women's sexuality and the right to use birth control.
Whilst this was occurring, however, African-American men and women witnessed a serious decrease in individual rights. Segregation and lynchings were common occurrences due to the Jim Crow Laws and KKK power was at an all-time high. Although men such as Du Bois fought to abolish segregation and Garvey upheld Pan-Africanism, these fights were essentially crushed by those in power.
Although it can be argued that many had an expansion of rights in America in the 1920s, it is important to note that whilst white women had increased rights, all African-Americans had decreased rights.
For some groups in American society, their legal ‘rights’ were expanded without gaining any real freedom.
The 19th Amendment enabled women to vote; however black women (and men) remained disenfranchised, largely due to 'separate but equal' treatment (Jim Crow laws) as well as the efforts of the KKK. The quality of services and institutions for blacks (schools, prisons, theatres, asylums, hospitals and so on)tended to be far lower than their white counterparts.
Women also became increasingly involved in higher education: in 1930 over 82,000 women, around 30,000 more than in 1920, were enrolled in state universities. Despite their education, they still had limited opportunities in the workplace and hit the glass ceiling.
The 1920’s witnessed an expansion of rights however these rights were essentially isolated to White American Women. The women’s suffrage movement was given momentum by Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul who both acted in mobilizing and empowering women in getting the vote in 1920.
Whilst the expansion of rights greatly affected the freedoms and livelihoods of White American Women, many minority rights such as African Americans remained withheld on account of Jim Crowe laws. These laws dominated racial relations in the south from the 1880s to the 1960s and introduced an unprecedented level of racial segregation. Whilst it can be argued that some Americans did witness an expansion of rights, this was coupled with the disenfranchisement of African American rights where many rights were withheld rather than expanded.
The 1920’s in America certainly saw a change in the ideals and rights of women, however other groups such as the African-Americans were not as successful.
Although new rights were implemented for women, there was still a regression of thinking. For example the women’s suffrage movement did result in the right to vote, however throughout the 1920’s the attention of women became more focused on appearance rather than intelligence. It can be argued that this was a step backward as women had strongly fought for their independence, only to redirect their attention to a lifestyle that was based on careless behaviour and pleasing men.
In regards to African-Americans and racial freedom, movements such as the Ku Klux Klan and John Crow laws, counteracted any progress they were making. Segregation was still in full force, and black women were excluded from the right to vote.
The 1920’s witnessed increasing debates about the rights of many American citizens, including African Americans and women. Whether these rights were actualized or not is another question entirely, however, there was an air of change. The 1920’s saw a break from tradition, which is evident in the subject of birth control. Although in most cases women were declined birth control it was a significant period of change as people begun to discuss sex beyond reproduction. The subject of birth control forced women to think about what they wanted from life, whether they too wanted to spend all hours in a Jazz club or put babies to sleep, a choice that previously wasn’t theirs to contemplate
Overall, there were not many new rights given to Americans in the 1920’s. Women gained the right to vote with the passing of the 19th amendment, but these rights were not extended to the African-American women with the Jim Crow laws still being in affect. And while these women gained the right to vote, the image of the flapper made most of America see woman as “mentally immature” suggesting a one step forward, two steps back attitude. After gaining this right, groups such as the WKKK started voicing their resistance against African-American women’s right to vote and therefore no action was taken to enfranchise them.
On the other hand, other minority groups and immigrants had just as many hardships, especially after the passing of the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924. Limiting the number of immigrants allowed into the country is clearly removing the freedom that America was commonly associated with. The act also gave rise to eugenics, further encouraging segregation.
It is true that America in the 1920s witnessed an expansion of rights. However this was definitely not something that was shared by all Americans. In fact, it could be argued that white women were really the only ones to see any expansion of rights in the 1920s. The ratification of the 19th amendment granting suffrage to women (a movement led by women such as Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul), was a sign of success for the leaders of women’s liberation. Yet even this success was limited by the fact that black women were not granted the vote. The Jim Crow Laws meant that black men were denied the right to vote, that they had previously held. When women’s suffrage was granted this extended just as much too black women. With white The Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924 which limited the number of immigrants of certain countries that would be allowed in the US (in some cases, not allowing certain minorities). This was a definite blow to the rights of these groups.
It would be erroneous to argue that 1920's witnessed an expansion of rights for many American's. White women were experimenting with femininity and challenging preconceived ideas about gender and sexuality. The corporate landscape in America during the 1920's became less homogeneous and was refurnished with an essence of 'professional domesticity'. Women worked in clerical and service positions where they were professionally immobile, had little status and low wages. The secondary source reading for week 3, ' Born for Liberty', states that the 1920's saw ' the domestic realm itself become more contingent on a technical, corporate and professionalized state'. Women were a 'symbol for the age, smoking, dancing and flaunting their sexuality'. And, as mentioned above, race was not much of a political priority during the 1920's. Sure, white women received the vote and there was a positive increase in the amount of women receiving a higher education.
However, whilst the 1920's saw the inclusion of ( some ) females within America's corporate make-up, essentially all their inclusion reflected was an on-going domestic power struggle between male and female.
It can be said that the civil rights of women saw the greatest improvement and change during the 1920s, while African Americans and various other minority groups including immigrants saw little progression to their situation. As it has already been mentioned countless times, women’s suffrage was central to this ‘expansion of rights’ along with the shift in social attitudes toward females. These include women’s sexuality and the notion of sex itself including birth control, the ideal mother figure, women in tertiary education and women in the workforce. The American woman of the 20s had become rather ‘radical’ in her ideals and values, a real shift away from the previous generations. The Jim Crow laws of racial segregation and the increasing influence of the KKK, which peaked in its membership in the mid 1920s, meant that whilst white women experienced an expansion to their rights, a multitude of people did not.
Contrary to the assertions of such historians, the "roaring 20s" did not witness the expansion of rights for "many americans", but merely for certain ones ; specifically, women who garnered an unprecedented level of new-found autonomy and liberty. Evidence of such was noted in ‘the flapper’, progress in birth control and shifting perceptions of sex and desire. Such rights were espoused by the rising female suffrage movement - as championed by prominent feminists Carrie Catt (who spearheaded the NAWSA) and Alice Paul of the NWA movement respectively. Significantly, in 1912 only nine states (predominantly western) had granted women the vote, but through the distinguished efforts of Paul and Catt through their organisations, in 1920 the 19th amendment was passed to the constitution, thereby enshrining female suffrage into federal law.
Although the 1920’s proved to be an era of changing values and ideals throughout America, North and South alike, the expansion of rights was not equally enjoyed and experienced by all fighting for them. The lead up to the 1920’s saw the women’s empowerment movement boom, which undoubtedly climaxed in 1920 when the state ratified the 19th Amendment, allowing women the legal right to vote. Although the 19th Amendment allowed females to vote, black women were still disadvantaged along with black men who remained unable to vote. Not only were African Americans exiled from voting but also had their civil rights infringed upon with the enforcement of the Jim Crow laws in the majority of Southern States.
To say that there was an expansion of rights for many Americans in the 1920s would be a flawed argument. The only real winners of the 1920s were white women, who gained the right to vote with the passing of the 19th amendment. The emergence of flappers typified a powerful wave of behavioural and ideological changes in American culture. Sexuality and gender was talked about more freely and the introduction of birth control became a powerful instrument for the freedom of white women. Further, the number of white women receiving a higher education increased during this time. As the Jim Crow laws were still in effect, the right to vote was denied to black women and men. Hence, the 1920s really only accommodated an expansion of rights for white women.
The expansion of rights during the 1920s was not as broad as some historians argue. White women received the most changes in their civil rights during this period, as they were given to the right to vote in 1920 following the 19th Amendment. The Suffragists of the era were instrumental in reaching this change. However, black women and men were still denied the right to vote during this time, and the Jim Crow laws which ensured this were still in place for many decades to come to continue the “separate but equal” philosophy. Other societal attitudes also changed during this period providing further empowerment for women – increased access to higher education (women made up 47.3% of all students enrolled in university during the 1920s), birth control and the ‘Flapper’ style of the decade.
The 1920’s saw a major development in the rights of many white American citizens, mainly women, yet did nothing for the advancement of black citizens. The women’s suffrage movement of 1920 empowered White women to vote, whilst also inspiring other women to continue to fight for women’s rights. For example activist Margaret Sanger’s work towards legalizing birth control enabled women, especially lower and middle class women to consider their options about having children without guilt about their financial or religious ideals.
Yet, this period often considered as revolutionary in the expansion of rights did nothing to empower or improve the lives of black citizens. The actions of the KKK as well as the Jim Crow laws brought inequality and sufferance to many black citizens, as they remained disenfranchised from many necessary rights. Thus, whilst the rights of many white Americans grew during the 1920’s it cannot be said that as a whole the 1920’s witnessed an expansion in rights, as one half of America’s population were still living in a racially biased world.
The expansion of the 1920's was rather the growth of the women's movement than any other groups rights. The woman's suffrage was the centre of change; their female acceptance of themselves as workers, voters, socialites and mothers, to the radical idea of how a woman views sex.
ReplyDeleteThe age of the Suffragettes lead by such key figures as Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul in the 1900's, inspired women to consider their role of voter in American Society. With the 19th Amendment passed on August 26th 1920, the age of the 'Flapper', an independent, youthful, rebellious and sexual woman emerged. The 'bobbed hair' noted by Mary Garden revealed a 'a progressive step... in keeping the inner spirit that animates my whole existence' perhaps linking back to the 19th amendment. The 'non-maternal' appearance sparked female change within advertisements, magazines, dance and culture. This change in a woman's movement after they were given the 19th amendment was never seen before in America's female history.
Noted by historian Sara M. Evans, such groups as the League of Women Voters (formally NAWSA) andThe National Women's Party attempted to continue to support women who were choosing to work in the workplace as it signified new opportunities for the 'new' woman. However, this was strongly situated to the 'white' woman.
As it had become law for women to vote, the emergence of a sexual revolution had followed. Such radical ideas as Marie Stopes' 'Married Love' and Mary Sanger's calling toward birth control, revealed the new woman as one to be open about sex, not to be the image of a maternal, continuous child-bearing mother anymore.
Tara Crivari
DeleteWednesday 10am Caulfield
It is known that during the 1920s America witnessed the expansion of rights for white women. The continued fight for sexual rights after the granting of suffrage in 1920 was a key indicator of the successes of the women's movement in the 1920s. Women such as Carrie Chapman Catt (NAWSA) and Alice Paul (NWP) had fought hard to gain the right to vote, and women such as Marie Stopes and Margaret Sanger continued this fight by upholding women's sexuality and the right to use birth control.
ReplyDeleteWhilst this was occurring, however, African-American men and women witnessed a serious decrease in individual rights. Segregation and lynchings were common occurrences due to the Jim Crow Laws and KKK power was at an all-time high. Although men such as Du Bois fought to abolish segregation and Garvey upheld Pan-Africanism, these fights were essentially crushed by those in power.
Although it can be argued that many had an expansion of rights in America in the 1920s, it is important to note that whilst white women had increased rights, all African-Americans had decreased rights.
Nick Leonidas
Wednesday 10am Caulfield
For some groups in American society, their legal ‘rights’ were expanded without gaining any real freedom.
ReplyDeleteThe 19th Amendment enabled women to vote; however black women (and men) remained disenfranchised, largely due to 'separate but equal' treatment (Jim Crow laws) as well as the efforts of the KKK. The quality of services and institutions for blacks (schools, prisons, theatres, asylums, hospitals and so on)tended to be far lower than their white counterparts.
Women also became increasingly involved in higher education: in 1930 over 82,000 women, around 30,000 more than in 1920, were enrolled in state universities. Despite their education, they still had limited opportunities in the workplace and hit the glass ceiling.
The 1920’s witnessed an expansion of rights however these rights were essentially isolated to White American Women. The women’s suffrage movement was given momentum by Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul who both acted in mobilizing and empowering women in getting the vote in 1920.
ReplyDeleteWhilst the expansion of rights greatly affected the freedoms and livelihoods of White American Women, many minority rights such as African Americans remained withheld on account of Jim Crowe laws. These laws dominated racial relations in the south from the 1880s to the 1960s and introduced an unprecedented level of racial segregation. Whilst it can be argued that some Americans did witness an expansion of rights, this was coupled with the disenfranchisement of African American rights where many rights were withheld rather than expanded.
The 1920’s in America certainly saw a change in the ideals and rights of women, however other groups such as the African-Americans were not as successful.
ReplyDeleteAlthough new rights were implemented for women, there was still a regression of thinking. For example the women’s suffrage movement did result in the right to vote, however throughout the 1920’s the attention of women became more focused on appearance rather than intelligence. It can be argued that this was a step backward as women had strongly fought for their independence, only to redirect their attention to a lifestyle that was based on careless behaviour and pleasing men.
In regards to African-Americans and racial freedom, movements such as the Ku Klux Klan and John Crow laws, counteracted any progress they were making. Segregation was still in full force, and black women were excluded from the right to vote.
- Celine Hutchinson, 10am Tutorial Wednesday
The 1920’s witnessed increasing debates about the rights of many American citizens, including African Americans and women. Whether these rights were actualized or not is another question entirely, however, there was an air of change. The 1920’s saw a break from tradition, which is evident in the subject of birth control. Although in most cases women were declined birth control it was a significant period of change as people begun to discuss sex beyond reproduction. The subject of birth control forced women to think about what they wanted from life, whether they too wanted to spend all hours in a Jazz club or put babies to sleep, a choice that previously wasn’t theirs to contemplate
ReplyDeleteOverall, there were not many new rights given to Americans in the 1920’s. Women gained the right to vote with the passing of the 19th amendment, but these rights were not extended to the African-American women with the Jim Crow laws still being in affect. And while these women gained the right to vote, the image of the flapper made most of America see woman as “mentally immature” suggesting a one step forward, two steps back attitude. After gaining this right, groups such as the WKKK started voicing their resistance against African-American women’s right to vote and therefore no action was taken to enfranchise them.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, other minority groups and immigrants had just as many hardships, especially after the passing of the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924. Limiting the number of immigrants allowed into the country is clearly removing the freedom that America was commonly associated with. The act also gave rise to eugenics, further encouraging segregation.
It is true that America in the 1920s witnessed an expansion of rights. However this was definitely not something that was shared by all Americans. In fact, it could be argued that white women were really the only ones to see any expansion of rights in the 1920s.
ReplyDeleteThe ratification of the 19th amendment granting suffrage to women (a movement led by women such as Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul), was a sign of success for the leaders of women’s liberation. Yet even this success was limited by the fact that black women were not granted the vote.
The Jim Crow Laws meant that black men were denied the right to vote, that they had previously held. When women’s suffrage was granted this extended just as much too black women. With white
The Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924 which limited the number of immigrants of certain countries that would be allowed in the US (in some cases, not allowing certain minorities). This was a definite blow to the rights of these groups.
It would be erroneous to argue that 1920's witnessed an expansion of rights for many American's. White women were experimenting with femininity and challenging preconceived ideas about gender and sexuality. The corporate landscape in America during the 1920's became less homogeneous and was refurnished with an essence of 'professional domesticity'. Women worked in clerical and service positions where they were professionally immobile, had little status and low wages. The secondary source reading for week 3, ' Born for Liberty', states that the 1920's saw ' the domestic realm itself become more contingent on a technical, corporate and professionalized state'. Women were a 'symbol for the age, smoking, dancing and flaunting their sexuality'.
ReplyDeleteAnd, as mentioned above, race was not much of a political priority during the 1920's.
Sure, white women received the vote and there was a positive increase in the amount of women receiving a higher education.
However, whilst the 1920's saw the inclusion of ( some ) females within America's corporate make-up, essentially all their inclusion reflected was an on-going domestic power struggle between male and female.
Kirsty Allen, 10am Tutorial Wednesday
It can be said that the civil rights of women saw the greatest improvement and change during the 1920s, while African Americans and various other minority groups including immigrants saw little progression to their situation.
ReplyDeleteAs it has already been mentioned countless times, women’s suffrage was central to this ‘expansion of rights’ along with the shift in social attitudes toward females. These include women’s sexuality and the notion of sex itself including birth control, the ideal mother figure, women in tertiary education and women in the workforce. The American woman of the 20s had become rather ‘radical’ in her ideals and values, a real shift away from the previous generations.
The Jim Crow laws of racial segregation and the increasing influence of the KKK, which peaked in its membership in the mid 1920s, meant that whilst white women experienced an expansion to their rights, a multitude of people did not.
Contrary to the assertions of such historians, the "roaring 20s" did not witness the expansion of rights for "many americans", but merely for certain ones ; specifically, women who garnered an unprecedented level of new-found autonomy and liberty. Evidence of such was noted in ‘the flapper’, progress in birth control and shifting perceptions of sex and desire. Such rights were espoused by the rising female suffrage movement - as championed by prominent feminists Carrie Catt (who spearheaded the NAWSA) and Alice Paul of the NWA movement respectively. Significantly, in 1912 only nine states (predominantly western) had granted women the vote, but through the distinguished efforts of Paul and Catt through their organisations, in 1920 the 19th amendment was passed to the constitution, thereby enshrining female suffrage into federal law.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the 1920’s proved to be an era of changing values and ideals throughout America, North and South alike, the expansion of rights was not equally enjoyed and experienced by all fighting for them.
ReplyDeleteThe lead up to the 1920’s saw the women’s empowerment movement boom, which undoubtedly climaxed in 1920 when the state ratified the 19th Amendment, allowing women the legal right to vote. Although the 19th Amendment allowed females to vote, black women were still disadvantaged along with black men who remained unable to vote. Not only were African Americans exiled from voting but also had their civil rights infringed upon with the enforcement of the Jim Crow laws in the majority of Southern States.
To say that there was an expansion of rights for many Americans in the 1920s would be a flawed argument. The only real winners of the 1920s were white women, who gained the right to vote with the passing of the 19th amendment. The emergence of flappers typified a powerful wave of behavioural and ideological changes in American culture. Sexuality and gender was talked about more freely and the introduction of birth control became a powerful instrument for the freedom of white women. Further, the number of white women receiving a higher education increased during this time. As the Jim Crow laws were still in effect, the right to vote was denied to black women and men. Hence, the 1920s really only accommodated an expansion of rights for white women.
ReplyDeleteThe expansion of rights during the 1920s was not as broad as some historians argue. White women received the most changes in their civil rights during this period, as they were given to the right to vote in 1920 following the 19th Amendment. The Suffragists of the era were instrumental in reaching this change. However, black women and men were still denied the right to vote during this time, and the Jim Crow laws which ensured this were still in place for many decades to come to continue the “separate but equal” philosophy. Other societal attitudes also changed during this period providing further empowerment for women – increased access to higher education (women made up 47.3% of all students enrolled in university during the 1920s), birth control and the ‘Flapper’ style of the decade.
ReplyDeleteThe 1920’s saw a major development in the rights of many white American citizens, mainly women, yet did nothing for the advancement of black citizens. The women’s suffrage movement of 1920 empowered White women to vote, whilst also inspiring other women to continue to fight for women’s rights. For example activist Margaret Sanger’s work towards legalizing birth control enabled women, especially lower and middle class women to consider their options about having children without guilt about their financial or religious ideals.
ReplyDeleteYet, this period often considered as revolutionary in the expansion of rights did nothing to empower or improve the lives of black citizens. The actions of the KKK as well as the Jim Crow laws brought inequality and sufferance to many black citizens, as they remained disenfranchised from many necessary rights. Thus, whilst the rights of many white Americans grew during the 1920’s it cannot be said that as a whole the 1920’s witnessed an expansion in rights, as one half of America’s population were still living in a racially biased world.