The flapper was a young woman in the 1920s who rejected conventional female behavior, clothing, and hairstyles. She was associated with illegal clubs during Prohibition, but also symbolized greater physical freedom and easier breathing for women. The movement ended with the Great Depression, but the legacy of unconventional behavior remained.
The term flapper is more associated with a set of attitudes, behaviors and fashions attributed to certain women of the 1920s. Although most think the original flapper is an American creation, the UK actually coined the term before that decade. This person was a young female trying to leave the nest, flapping her wings awkwardly as she tried to reach maturity.
For many, the flapper was associated with the many illegal clubs that sold alcohol during Prohibition, but she was so much more than just a woman who drank and smoked often. In many ways, she symbolized the young woman of the early 20s, rejecting conventional female behavior.
This was most evident in clothing and hairstyles. This young woman shed the restrictive garments of corsets and she instead preferred a boyish figure in dress styles and undergarment styles. She might wear teddy bears or bras that actually push her breasts in to minimize her figure.
The hems of dresses fell just below the knee, and the waistline was often completely absent. Such clothing and the lack of armored undergarments were often considered shocking. Later, however, dresses with higher hemlines and A-line construction became quite regular wear. Additionally, few returned to the corset, and as a result, women enjoyed greater physical freedom and easier breathing.
At the beginning, even the hairstyles were rather “unconventional”. The bob, a short, almost masculine cut that was usually chin-length, was a swap for long, long hair that had to be pinned and arranged by maids or extensive personal effort. Makeup was used to excess, according to some, with dark lips and heavy eyeliner and powder.
Flappers were open to more physical intimacy than the women who preceded them by a decade. In fact, cuddling and kissing used to be considered relatively normal behavior. Many at the time called this very loose and questionable morality, but often this involved early sexual behavior, and many women still waited for marriage to have sex. As in any generation, the pattern of sexual behavior was varied.
F. Scott Fitzgerald popularized the movement in many of his short stories. In particular, “Bernice Bobs her Hair,” discusses the decision of whether a woman will succumb to her style and give up her beautiful tresses. Also, some actresses like Clara Bow were examples of flapper actresses.
The movement and the gay times that accompanied it were considered over in 1929 with the onset of the Great Depression. Indeed, displays of conspicuous consumption, such as those of pleasure-seeking flappers, were strongly discouraged. While these young women were often viewed as hedonistic and foolish, their legacy was the pervasive thought that women shouldn’t behave conventionally. In fact, unconventional behavior might be celebrated rather than despised.
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