1. Women in the 20th century
• At the beginning of the 20th century, women in the western
industrial societies began to rethink their roles at home and in
society, and began to claim a greater public presence.
• The idea of the New American
Woman created a new, more
empowering, model of feminism which
demanded greater access to
education, new professions, a new
level of economic independence, and
new social customs

2. Suffragism
• In the 19th century, women began
to demand the right to vote
because they wanted influence in
political decisions and the ability to
create laws that would promote
greater equality.
In the 20th century, women in some European countries were finally granted the
right to vote.
1893 - New Zealand
1920 - 19th amendment in the USA gave most women the right to vote
1931 - Spain

3. Access to new work
• During World War I, women began to move
into jobs formerly occupied by men (teaching,
industry and engineering, medicine,
administration)
– Despite their inclusion into more qualified
jobs, however, women were still paid less,
and many women still worked in factories
or in domestic service.
– The most important effect was that of
empowerment, that women now had the
opportunity to demand equality.

4. Access to education
• The number of middle-class women finishing primary and secondary
education increased drastically. Afterward they were able to study a
profession, such as business, administration, nursing.
• More and more women were attending University, but they were still
a minority, and illiteracy among women was still higher than that
among men.
– In the U.S., 39% of university degrees were earned by women. At
the beginning of the 20th century, it was only 19%.

5. Fashion
• Women traded the
complicated hairstyles
of the past for more
simple and
“masculine” hairstyles
for a working woman.
• Dresses were also
simplified and skirts
became shorter to
allow for more
movement.

6. New customs
• Women became less timid and developed new hobbies and customs
outside of the domestic sphere
– The played sports, went to clubs, smoked in public, drove cars, danced
- “Flappers”
– The Charleston was the most popular dance in the U.S. during
1920’s.
– In 1928 women competed for the first time in Olympic field events

7. • a lot of makeup
•short hair
•short dresses
•wild behavior