Women In The Great Gatsby Analysis

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Women of the 1920s developed a new mindset as a result of embracing flapper-dom, while some presented an attitude apparent in many women today. Although the idea of defying social norms enticed the foolish women to become reckless and irresponsible, a few resourceful individuals took advantage of the change and pursued a more independent route. The individualistic motivation that women extracted from flapper-dom during the 1920s was a stepping stone for a more bright and promising future. Young girls were not at fault when they took on the exciting new trends of the era. It was common for a young girl to bob her hair, wear makeup, and sport shorter dresses. On the other hand, older generations were utterly shocked by the sudden shift …show more content…

Although many mark this time as an excuse for women to dress scandalously, based merely on their appearance, there was a much deeper meaning for such a drastic change: independence. The art of the generation simply portrayed how women were displayed, yet captured a glimpse of their ferocity and boldness. In the 1920s novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jordan defied the stereotypical woman. She “instinctively avoided shrewd, clever men” and was described to be “incurably dishonest” with a “hard, jaunty body” (58). Compared to the bubbly, delicate women whom distorted their appearances with excessive makeup, Fitzgerald depicts Jordan as one to earn her way in life rather than objectifying herself to wooing a man solely for his money. She almost assumes the role …show more content…

Women contributed greatly to the upcoming war in the 1940s and earned more leeway in the educational aspect of life. Not only could they help the economy by joining the workforce, but they could pursue professions that were unimaginable to a 1920s flapper. Currently, there is a woman running to be president of the United States! Women can join the army, they can own a personal business, they can even host their own television shows! People such as Hilary Clinton and Ellen Degeneres are living proof of what women can accomplish in the 21st

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