Flappers of the 1920s rebelled against traditional women's styles and behaviors. They cut their hair short, wore revealing dresses, used makeup, and engaged in activities like smoking, drinking, and wild dancing that had previously been reserved for men. This new lifestyle of freedom and risk-taking represented women casting off Victorian-era propriety and establishing new independence and social values in the aftermath of World War I.

1. 1920 FLAPPERS
By
Tiernay
Jackson

2. BEFORE THE “ROARING 20’S”
Women's’ styles have been very uptight
and proper. Women wore floor length
dresses, long hair, no make up and
corsets…
Ideal style in 1900 called Gibson Girls

3. AFTER WWI
Americans wanted to rejoice and redefine themselves
Rejected the past
Led to new lifestyles and social values

4. DEFINE A “FLAPPER”
•Young women in the 1920’s who
rebelled against tradition
•Author F. Scott Fitzgerald describes
flappers as ―”Lovely, expensive and
about 19”
•One dictionary says ―Giddy, attractive,
slightly unconventional, somewhat
foolish girl full of wild surmises and
inclined to revolt against the precepts
and admonitions of her elders‖.

5. LIFE AS A FLAPPER
•Wild partying
•Smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol –unheard
of if you were a woman!
•Lived reckless lives and clung to youth
•Flappers were the first of the women to flaunt
their sexuality
•Their lifestyles were shown in the way that they
dressed and danced

6. THE “LOOK”
Wore heavy make up
Clothes: a dress just below the knee, stockings, heels no
corset
The look was influenced by Coco Chanel
Gender bending—tightly wrap their chest to flatten it
The ―Tube‖—Lower hipline and straight from shoulders to
hem

7. FLAPPER HAIR
•―The Bob‖ is the famous hair of the 20’s.
•Cut very short in the back and a bit longer in the
front.
The Cloche Hat: Fit snuggly over short hair and
reached the eyebrows

8. LEADING INTO MORE
INDEPENDENT
25% women worked outside the home
Automobiles
New social values
Voting rights
Open discussion about sexuality saying it’s “Healthy and
Normal”

9. ENTERTAINMENT
Drinking
Drinking was a favorite pastime of the flappers. Before 1920’s,
only men would drink publicly
Seen as ―Giddy Flappers‖ due to drunkenness
Many carried a flask
Dancing
Charleston, Black Bottom and the Shimmy

10. In the 1920’s, a new woman was born. She
smoked, drank, danced and voted. She cut her
hair, wore make-up, and went to wild parties.
She was giddy and took risks.

11. Betty Boop was the first
ever Flapper cartoon.
Showing all the
characteristics and flashy
sex symbols of a racy
1920 Flapper.