Women's Significance in the 1920's

Women's Significance in the 1920's

In the 1920's women started to emerge as a significant force. Before

the 1920's, women rarely found jobs in male-dominated fields because

of their status in Victorian and Edwardian societies. However all this

had changed in the 1920's. Women became more involved in visual arts

as more than a hobby, new lifestyles were promoted, women were given a

chance to play a role in political issues and women began to have some

say in the direction of their lives. This all happened due to two

reasons. One was the thinning of the male population due to World War

I and two, the continuing awareness of the feminist movement.

Before World War I, women had not been involved with visual arts very

much. If they were involved with it, it was mainly as a hobby. By the

1920's, women started to take art more seriously. This was due to the

"all electric" household, which allowed women more time to explore

their interests. Many women began to make a career out of art,

although they were seen as non-conformist and eccentric. Women

introduced modern painting into Australian art during the early

twentieth century. Women became recognised as talented artists, and

their paintings were slowly accepted into society. Some examples of

these women are, Grace Cossington-Smith, Grace Crowley Margaret

Preston and Thea Proctor. These women influenced many other women to

pursue art as a career, which is strange because it was the prospect

of a woman being a full-time artist was socially questionable.

Secondly, women's magazines promoted new lifestyles for women. It

introduced the alternative by one using birth control, and how to play

an active role in political issues.

Organisations such as the National Councill of women and the Women's

service Guild attempted to get women into Parliament. Women had been

excluded from important roles in political parties and trade unions.

Women's involvement in unions and politics were viewed with suspicion.

Women's groups believed that gaining political power was the most

effective way of bringing public attention to women's issues, the real