Flappers, What are they?
A flapper was a young women in her teens and early twenties who was free spirited. The older generation viewed these women as disgraceful and boisterous, but they were just busy reinventing themselves. Their sense of independence and desire to have fun is what made the flapper different than the women in generations before them. You could point out a flapper by how they behaved and dressed. They would be the young ladies who were wearing glamours and reveling clothing. They would be the women who worked all day and then went out dancing all night at speakeasies or nightclubs. The women who became flappers redefined the role of young women in the early 1900's, and created the image of the a new woman. And this new woman, was the modern woman.
Some people considered flappers and the changes they created in the stereotypical image of the young American women, to be the best thing that had happened to the United States since industrialization started. At the same time some critics argued that flappers were the worst thing to ever happen to the country. Below are the views of a few professionals from the Roaring Twenties on flappers:
Some people considered flappers and the changes they created in the stereotypical image of the young American women, to be the best thing that had happened to the United States since industrialization started. At the same time some critics argued that flappers were the worst thing to ever happen to the country. Below are the views of a few professionals from the Roaring Twenties on flappers:
"She is the symbol of the times."
~"The Flapper as a Religious Force" The Literary Digest, May 19, 1923
"(We are standing) In the presence of one of the greatest youth movements of history."
~Dr. William E. Gardner; Secretary of the department of the religious education of the Episcopal Church, "The Flapper as a Religious Force" The Literary Digest, May 19, 1923
~"The Flapper as a Religious Force" The Literary Digest, May 19, 1923
"(We are standing) In the presence of one of the greatest youth movements of history."
~Dr. William E. Gardner; Secretary of the department of the religious education of the Episcopal Church, "The Flapper as a Religious Force" The Literary Digest, May 19, 1923
Common Characteristics
"(Flappers were women who) flirted because it was fun to flirt” and “refused to be bored chiefly because she wasn't boring.”
~Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald
"(The model flapper is someone who is) impossible to shock, opposed to the double standard of morality that gave men more social freedom then women. Her skirts are short enough to reveal her ankles, her hair is short enough to expose the ravishing whiteness of her neck."
~H.L Menken, 1915
"A flapper is proud of her nerve- she is not even afraid of calling it but its right name. She is shameless, selfish and honest, but at the same time she considers these three attributes virtues. Why not? She takes a man's point of view as her mother never could, and when she loses she is not afraid to take a man- the man of the hour- at his face value... with no foolish promises that will need a disturbing and disagreeable breaking."
~Ruth Hooper, 1922
"She is, for one thing, a very pretty girl. Beauty is the fashion in 1925. she is frankly, heavily made up, not to imitate nature, but for an altogether artificial effect- pallor mortis, poisonously scarlet lips, richly ringed eyes- the latter looking not so much debauched (which is the intention) as diabetic. Her walk duplicates the swagger supposed by innocent America to go with the female half of the Paris Apache dance. And there are finally, her clothes. These were estimated the other day by some statistician to weigh two pounds."
~Bruce Bliven, "Flapper Jane" New Republic, 1925
"Besides short skirts, paint and powder, and short hair, what distinguishes the so-called flapper from anyone else her age? Her cynicism? I believed in this the flapper... reflecting the spirit of the times."
~Dr. W.A. Harris, "Flappers Upheld by the Minister" The New York Times, 1922
~Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald
"(The model flapper is someone who is) impossible to shock, opposed to the double standard of morality that gave men more social freedom then women. Her skirts are short enough to reveal her ankles, her hair is short enough to expose the ravishing whiteness of her neck."
~H.L Menken, 1915
"A flapper is proud of her nerve- she is not even afraid of calling it but its right name. She is shameless, selfish and honest, but at the same time she considers these three attributes virtues. Why not? She takes a man's point of view as her mother never could, and when she loses she is not afraid to take a man- the man of the hour- at his face value... with no foolish promises that will need a disturbing and disagreeable breaking."
~Ruth Hooper, 1922
"She is, for one thing, a very pretty girl. Beauty is the fashion in 1925. she is frankly, heavily made up, not to imitate nature, but for an altogether artificial effect- pallor mortis, poisonously scarlet lips, richly ringed eyes- the latter looking not so much debauched (which is the intention) as diabetic. Her walk duplicates the swagger supposed by innocent America to go with the female half of the Paris Apache dance. And there are finally, her clothes. These were estimated the other day by some statistician to weigh two pounds."
~Bruce Bliven, "Flapper Jane" New Republic, 1925
"Besides short skirts, paint and powder, and short hair, what distinguishes the so-called flapper from anyone else her age? Her cynicism? I believed in this the flapper... reflecting the spirit of the times."
~Dr. W.A. Harris, "Flappers Upheld by the Minister" The New York Times, 1922
The different levels of being a flapper
Semi Flapper: Was a girl who showed little change in the way she dressed and acted. She showed few signs in being more independent. The "Semi Flapper" was still independent and had fun, but she was more modest compared to other flappers.
Flapper: Was the average typical young women that just wanted to have fun. The "Flapper" changed her whole look and attitude towards life during the 1920's. If you looked at her you would know that she was a flapper, but she did not act like it at all times of the day.
Super Flapper: Was the girl who went all out and changed her whole lifestyle dedicated to being a flapper. They would party every night, and never miss a good time. Movie stars would be classified as the "Super Flapper". This was the women that you knew was a flapper when she walked into the room.
Semi Flapper: Was a girl who showed little change in the way she dressed and acted. She showed few signs in being more independent. The "Semi Flapper" was still independent and had fun, but she was more modest compared to other flappers.
Flapper: Was the average typical young women that just wanted to have fun. The "Flapper" changed her whole look and attitude towards life during the 1920's. If you looked at her you would know that she was a flapper, but she did not act like it at all times of the day.
Super Flapper: Was the girl who went all out and changed her whole lifestyle dedicated to being a flapper. They would party every night, and never miss a good time. Movie stars would be classified as the "Super Flapper". This was the women that you knew was a flapper when she walked into the room.