Flappers: The Younger Generation

In the 1920s, a new kind of woman was born. She smoked, drank, danced, and voted. She cut her hair, wore make-up, and went to parties. She was giddy and took risks. She was a flapper. Historians of the 1920s have described the “new woman” who emerged in the decade, politically active, working for wages, and more frank about their sexuality.

The term "flapper" first appeared in Great Britain after World War I. There was a short fad among young women to wear rubber galoshes (an overshoe worn in the rain or snow) left open to flap when they walked. It was also used to describe young girls, still somewhat awkward in movement who had not yet entered womanhood. Fitzgerald described the ideal flapper as "lovely, expensive, and about nineteen." So ideally, the flapper was a young, hot, but not to trashy woman. (When broken down, it doesn't seem so glamorous.)

The 'Flapper Image' consisted of very drastic changes, including short hair as well as clothes Nearly every article of clothing was trimmed down and lightened in order to make movement easier. The flapper dress was boxy and hung straight from shoulder to knee, with no waistline, allowing much more freedom of movement. While it did not show breasts or hips, it did show a lot of leg. Flappers also started wearing make-up, something that had previously been only worn by loose women. Rouge, powder, eyeliner, and lipstick became extremely popular.

Not only were they different in appearance, but they had an attitude to match. Stark truthfulness, fast living, and sexual behavior. Flappers seemed to cling to youth as if they were going to die at any moment. They took risks, they wanted to be different and to announce their departure from the good girl image, they smoked. But that isn't all they did, they also drank alcohol illegally during the time of Prohibition. Way to live fast and die young, eh? Nonetheless, Flappers had fun doing all that wild and crazy stuff. It taught us modern day girls how to be bad;D -It's Gatsby Baby