1 Women’s lives after the two world wars changed, but there is some debate as to how much it changed. Their lives changed politically, with women gaining the vote, they changed in terms of employment, as they were now permitted to join certain professions and they also changed socially as a better way of living was set out for them. It is argued that women were given greater opportunities after the wars due to their exceptional participation on the home front. However, many historians believe that this change in women’s lives was simply due to the changing times and the progression in society. The historical debate surrounding this topic is wether women’s lives really did change greatly after the two world wars, or wether their lives simply went back to the way they were before the war started.
For many of the women the war was ‘a genuinely liberating experience’ (first world war, accessed 07/01/09), and made the women feel useful as citizens. Also for some women it gave them the freedom that only men had enjoyed so far and ‘offered escape from jobs of badly paid drudgery’ (war and gender, accessed 22/01/09). In one women’s words it was said to be like ‘being let out of a cage’ (war and gender, accessed 22/01/09). The fact that it offered women freedom gives the impression that World War One did have a positive effect on the role of women. In support of the World War One having a positive effect on the women’s role.
Throughout centuries, women have been faced with oppression and judgment. Although women no longer face the same difficulties and oppression that they once did, it does not mean that women no longer face difficulties in a society where they are still expected to fit certain gender roles. The narrative “Juggling Acts” by comedian Tina Fey, discusses some of her experiences in dealing with the expectations that are placed upon women and the criticism that comes with being a working mother. Fey uses comedic relief throughout her narrative, in order to maker her critique on patriarchal society leave an impact. Along with the use of comedy as a means of critique, Fey also incorporates humor as a tool to downplay the serious aspect of her topic and as a way of keeping the attention of her audience.
Socially Women had many issues such as immigrants, contraception and changing of attitude. The development of the Flappers in the 1920s was one of the changes that were controversial. It went against the separate spheres where women did things that were considered manly such as smoking and drinking. It was a major ideological change for America. They emphasized on pleasure, consumption, sexuality and individualism.
Karen Anderson’s Wartime Women: “Sex Roles, Family Relations and the Status of Women during World War II” reexamines the various roles women occupied in wartime America. Anderson argues that though some historians they attribute women’s postwar employment changes simply to economics. Anderson implies that the 1940’s period played a more prominent role in developments, helping to accelerate the economic changes that would come after WWII. Moreover, though such studies exist in abundance today, in 1981 few historians explored the effects of living in a society with severe sex ratios. Anderson points out that despite continuing occupational sex segregation, a lack of appropriate child care, and the lingering negative attitudes regarding female employment, women persisted in gaining employment and opening doors for themselves and later generations.
In addition to the previous paragraph, we also know that Curley’s wife is a married woman, a possession of Curley’s. Perhaps Steinbeck does not give the wife a name throughout the book because during the 1930s, women were regarded as a sign of possession, an object or a personal belonging. This affects the reader by thinking Curley’s wife was nothing more than a sexual tool for Curley. Her character is symbolic to women in the 1930’s which contrasts to the women today and how much respect there is for women now. During the time of sorrow, many people had an imaginable dream to accomplish.
The flappers enjoyed shaking up the Gibson girls. They loved all the looks and considered it attention. Since the woman before the flappers never wore makeup, it was considered quite a scandal to be wearing makeup. Woman that wore makeup were usually prostitutes in that day in
The Flapper Influence The era of the 1920s had a significant role in creating identity of the characters in the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Among various influences that his writing had, the flapper woman played a large part in shaping many female characters. The term “flapper” was used to describe young women at an awkward age, and an awkward age it was in the Roaring Twenties. Their appearance, behavior and the rebellion of their old fashioned mother's Victorian views affected the identity of many female characters in Fitzgerald's work. In The Great Gatsby, Nick describes Myrtle's sister, Catherine, the first time he sees her at the party in Chapter Two.
The late 19th century and early 20th century was a time period in which both African-Americans and women in general were experiencing opportunities for advancement and change within society. I would argue that in both To Joy My Freedom and When Ladies Go A’Thieving women were challenging the role that women belonged in the house, while their reasons for challenging this role differed. Women and African-American’s were seen as subordinates in the late 19th and early 20th century, and the African-American women experienced double-trouble, so to speak. While it is fair to examine the comparisons between women in general, it is equally as fair to note the role that race played. In To Joy My Freedom, by Tera Hunter it is clear the oppression that African-American’s were still facing in the South.
In the world today, we, the public, spend so much time admiring stars from Hollywood and many of us want to be like them. Yet, there is so much pressure placed on them and sometimes this becomes all too much for them to cope with and they end up taking away their own life. This is the unpleasant and tragic side of being famous as we are all made to believe that fame will make you happy. Marilyn Monroe a talented and beautiful iconic star but, her fame was the death of her. Before Marilyn’s death, she had accomplished a lot for women in the U.S.’s society.