Overview
This video explores the origins, cultural context, and lasting impact of flappers as a symbol of the 1920s, covering their rise, lifestyle, and societal reactions.
Origins and Definition of Flappers
- The term "flapper" originated as slang in England, first referring to young prostitutes, then to excitable teenage girls.
- Flappers became synonymous with young women defying conservative norms in the 1920s United States.
Social and Cultural Context
- Post-World War I trauma and the Spanish flu pandemic led young people to prioritize fun and pleasure over worry.
- Women's rights advanced with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote.
- Increased job opportunities enabled women to be financially independent and make personal lifestyle choices.
- The 18th Amendment (Prohibition) banned alcohol, making drinking more appealing to rebellious youth.
Characteristics and Lifestyle of Flappers
- Flappers rejected Victorian and Edwardian norms, opting for looser fashion and expressive dancing over corsets and formal dances.
- Movie culture and Hollywood glamour promoted new ideals of beauty and independence for women.
- The 1920 film "The Flapper" portrayed the flapper lifestyle: breaking rules, seeking pleasure, and changing one's appearance.
- Smoking and drinking were adopted as symbols of freedom and rebellion.
Influence of Music and Media
- Jazz music, emerging from Black communities, became the preferred genre for flappers due to its lively and rebellious nature.
- Jazz's association with youthful rebellion and its disapproval by older generations reinforced its appeal.
- Early jazz vocalists and movies featuring flappers further spread the culture.
Fashion and Social Impact
- The bob haircut became popular among flappers, signifying a break from traditional female purity and femininity.
- Prominent actresses like Colleen Moore, Josephine Baker, and Clara Bow embodied flapper culture in film and media.
- The Charleston dance and flapper fashion became widely recognized symbols of the era.
Societal Reactions and Decline
- Many in the older generation condemned flappers for their perceived immorality and openness about sex.
- Not all young women identified as flappers; the culture was limited mainly to the 1920s.
- The stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression ended the era, making the flapper lifestyle unsustainable.
Legacy of Flapper Culture
- Flappers remain an enduring symbol of the 1920s, with their fashion and aesthetics still influential today, despite the brief lifespan of the movement.