The Negative Connotation Of Women In The 1920's

The term feminist is seen with a negative connotation because people use it as an insult against women in an effort to make them seem irrational and unfair, but in reality it is the exact opposite of that. Feminism is defined as the “belief in or advocacy of women’s social, political, and economic rights, especially with regard to equality of the sexes.” (Feminism). There is no reason that there should be a negative connotation to this belief or participation in advancing this belief, yet there is. This battle and struggle for equal rights has been going on for a very long time, but it really took off in the 1920s. The 19th amendment and The New Woman really helps to show how quickly women and their rights progressed in the United States. Many

This amendment gave women the right to vote, it reads, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged…on account of sex.” (U.S.). In addition to the passing of the 19th amendment the evolution of music, the makeup and clothing industries, and prohibition in the 1920s made The New Woman concept happen and explode to be as prominent as it did. The New Woman was a concept adapted in the 1920s that showed women in a completely new and different light than people were used to. Most of it revolved around the idea and concept that women were not and did not want to be as pure as they were expected to be. Many of the new things that women did and tried were found to be sexually suggested and frowned upon by previous

The New Woman movement helped to show everyone in our nation, including women, that women did not have to be perfect for men. This movement showed that a woman may wear makeup and short sleeved shirts if she liked without being seen as scandalous. That she may dance and have a good time without being looked down upon. This movement paved the way for feminists to show that women were a man’s equal, not above and certainly not below. Historical events and movements like The New Woman must be taught in school to show exactly why it is important not to treat our rights for granted, because they were not always our rights. Women should pursue high positions in their line of work because they are now able to, women should vote because they have only been able to for less than one hundred year. These are the things that women would not take the time to reflect upon and appreciate if they were not taught how hard their ancestors had to work for it and how much scrutiny they received for working towards