Women\'s History in America

Feminism

From the 1920s to the 1980s, women's roles and social status were both dramatically expanded and simultaneously retarded. Promising progress was often met by simultaneous setbacks. Such fluctuations and dichotomies persist until this day, as women are being portrayed in conflicting ways in the media and in politics. The double standard for women has been the overarching theme of the twentieth century female experience. The 1920s was a time for radical role revolutions for women. Flappers were wild, independent women who broke free of gender role restrictions by wearing different clothes and dancing. Their breaking free of tradition reflected overarching social and political changes taking place throughout the world. The roles of women at this time were becoming increasingly liberated, and in the 1920s, women were finally granted the ability to vote. Their greater social and political status expanded female roles, but not universally and not comprehensively. For example, women would continue to be treated as second-class citizen for decades and in some cases still are. Women in the early and mid-twentieth century also remained closely connected to the domestic ideologies that have shaped women's experiences throughout time.

As women did gain greater social and political status, however, they began to occupy positions within traditionally male-dominated arenas. For example, women became significant presences in the military, whether as uniformed officers or as nurses. Women who were not involved in the war effort directly became viable economic producers. From the 1920s to the 1940s, or between the first and second World Wars, women's work roles shifted and although they made less then men, women became significant breadwinners for their families as well as entrepreneurs. Increasingly, women became involved in political causes, and became more recognized as creative and productive members of society.

Women's roles and status took a giant step backwards during the 1950s when, after significant loss of life during World War Two, Americans encouraged a baby boom generation. Consumerism, and the "cult of the ideal female" shaped women's roles during the 1950s. Women who had gained much in terms of social and financial independence found themselves in a dual role as idealized domestic servant and as common laborer. Women were discouraged to break free from their ascribed social roles and conformity became the norm during the socially conservative 1950s.

The Civil Rights movement in the 1960s once again resulted in an expansion of women's roles at home and in public. With another war on the rise, women became involved now in the peace rallies and anti-war protests as well as involved in the movements promoting racial and social justice. Although many women continued to serve in the military, many others became vocal and outspoken against the American government. The Equal Rights Amendment was a child of this Second Wave of Feminism, which greatly expanded women's roles and social status. The promotion of reproductive freedom and of economic and labor equality also came from the efforts of women during the 1960s.