Download Women in the 1920`s

WOMEN IN THE 1920’S
BEFORE THE 1920S
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Before the 20’s,
women had few rights
Women were also
expected to conform to
very strict social rules
However, WW1
changed women’s roles
in society and their
perception of
themselves
During the 20’s many
women, especially
young women, refused
to go back to the old
ways
This is an agreement between a Miss Jones, teacher and the Board of Education of Middleton
School, whereby Miss Jones agrees to teach in the Middleton School for a period of eight
months beginning September 1, 1923. The board of Education agrees to pay Miss Jones the
sum of $75.00 per month. Miss Jones agrees:
1. Not to get married. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher
marries.
2. Not to keep company with men.
3. To be at home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless she is in attendance at a
school function.
4. Not to loiter downtown in ice-cream parlors.
5. Not to leave town at any time without the permission of the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees.
6. Not to smoke cigarettes. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher is
found smoking.
7. Not to drink beer, wine, whiskey. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the
teacher is found drinking beer, wine or whiskey.
8. Not to ride in a carriage or automobile with any man except her brothers or father.
9. Not to dress in bright clothes.
10. Not to dye her hair.
11. To wear at least two petticoats.
12. Not to wear dresses more than two inches above the ankle.
13. To keep the schoolroom clean; to sweep the classroom floor, to scrub the floor at least once
a week with soap and hot water, clean blackboards daily; start the stove at 7 a.m. so that
the room will be warm by 8 a.m. when the children arrive; to carry out the ashes at least
once a day.
14. Not to use face powder, mascara or paint the lips.
THE FLAPPER
Young women cut their hair short, wore short
dresses, smoked, drank in public and earned
their own money and DANCED!
 Their was also a sexual liberation as women
talked openly about sex, had multiple sexual
partners and conception became more widely
accepted
 These women were nicknamed flappers because
of the noise their un-tied shoes would make as
they walked
 Women also entered sport in large numbers
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THE EDMONTON GRADS
The 1928 Olympics
THE WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE
MOVEMENT
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One of the first and most
powerful women’s
movements
Educated about the evils
of liquor
Promoted responsible
citizenship and an end to
domestic violence
Extremely influential in
passing Prohibition
Laws
Prohibition was the
direct result of female
suffrage – women were
now a powerful political
force
THE PERSONS CASE
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In 1928, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that women are
not “persons” and are not eligible to become Senators
The Famous Five - Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Nellie
McClung, Louise McKinney & Henrietta Edwards -fought to
have women recognized as full “persons” under the law
Finally won the case by travelled to England and having the
decision overruled by the Privy Council
KEY POINTS
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Women fought for more
freedom and opportunity
in the 1920’s
Flappers were young
women who defied the
rules
The Women’s Christian
Temperance Movement
was the first big women’s
movement – helped start
prohibition
The Famous Five (led by
Emily Murphy) fought to
have women declared
“persons”