The 1920’s to a large extent witnessed an expansion of rights for not just many Americans, but arguably half the population, i.e. women. Through the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the denial of voting rights based on sex, the political rights of women had been largely expanded. Women also saw a development in their rights to control their own bodies, specifically their fertility, with the widespread acceptance of birth control and the availability of contraception. In some respects, an expansion of rights can also be seen in the increasing freedom of women to be sexually autonomous as a shift in public attitudes permitted the expression of female sexuality.
For many Americans, the 1920’s were a liberating era. Women campaigned for, and received, the right to vote, and they entered the work force en masse, enabling them to be financially independent. Relaxed divorce laws and more easily-accessible birth control meant women could be more in control of their bodies and lives. African Americans who migrated to the north found themselves with the freedom to speak and act more freely than in the south, particularly regarding political rights movements. Affluence and a growth in production of cars, radios and the like, meant that what was once seen as a luxury only the wealthy could afford, now became available to many. Obviously, the changes were not perfect (eg. job opportunities for women were limited, and wages lower than their male counterparts; African Americans had more rights in the north than in the south, but were still discriminated against socially and politically), but in general , 1920’s America saw an expansion of rights for many.
It seems agreeable that the 1920’s was a more progressive decade than many others preceding it, however the notion that it contained a universal expansion of rights for Americans is somewhat misplaced. Arguably the biggest achievement of this decade was the newfound freedom of women after gaining suffrage in 1920, however this doesn’t mean progress for other groups rights was equally as fruitful. The right to drink alcohol for example was taken away. There was resurgence in the Klu Klux Klan, a group whose premise was involved with denying rights to certain groups. The 1920s, like most eras was not one of perfect progress, but rather a case of two steps forward, one step back.
It's quite evident that the 1920's marked a decade in which rights in America expanded greatly, however mainly in terms of gender. The expansion and tireless work of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) paid dividends with the 19th amendment being ratified in August of 1920. This new found freedom and entitlement led to a sexual revolution among women with the "Flappers" leading the way, embracing there sexuality, and in turn changing the perception of women's sexual roles within a relationship. The increased understanding of birth control as well as the acceptance of female desire begin to pave ways for women's roles. Despite this progress however statistics show that for all the major changes to women's rights, women in work only increased from 23-24% between 1920 and 1930
As the 19th amendment was ratified in the 1920’s and woman were given the right to vote, of course there was an expansion of rights for many female Americans. Additionally with more and more emphasis on the use of birth control, some woman felt that they had gained a new level of control over their body, which can also be seen as an expansion of rights. Another development of the rights for woman was that more and more females were accepted in employment and into the work place. Although woman had been given the right to vote there was still a limitation for black woman who were systematically marginalized across the south. Essentially many Americans did experience an expansion of rights but many Americans did not.
To a large extent it can be argued that the 1920’s saw an expansion of human rights for many Americans. The most prominent of these groups were women, who prior to the 1920’s had no voting rights and perceptibly less control over their own bodies. This changed in the early 20’s, firstly with the addition of the 19th amendment in 1920, which prohibits the right to deny any US citizen the right to vote based on sex. Secondly, a cultural change in which contraception became widely available and accepted empowered women with sexual freedom specifically their own fertility
In 1920 the US Government passed a constitutional amendment legalising women’s suffrage. Some historians see this as the event that marked the beginning of a decade of rights expansion for all Americans. But though the 1920’s saw many more women move into the workforce, they were still very limited in the types of work they could participate in. The decade also saw the birth of the idea of women as consumers, subjugating women into a new disempowering role that only saw value in appearance. The systematic cultural and political disenfranchisement of African Americans in the southern states continued, and the racist white feminist movements were unable to see the intersection of the oppression of women and black people, and so did nothing to better the rights of black women.
The 1920’s to a large extent witnessed an expansion of rights for not just many Americans, but arguably half the population, i.e. women. Through the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the denial of voting rights based on sex, the political rights of women had been largely expanded. Women also saw a development in their rights to control their own bodies, specifically their fertility, with the widespread acceptance of birth control and the availability of contraception. In some respects, an expansion of rights can also be seen in the increasing freedom of women to be sexually autonomous as a shift in public attitudes permitted the expression of female sexuality.
ReplyDeleteFor many Americans, the 1920’s were a liberating era. Women campaigned for, and received, the right to vote, and they entered the work force en masse, enabling them to be financially independent. Relaxed divorce laws and more easily-accessible birth control meant women could be more in control of their bodies and lives. African Americans who migrated to the north found themselves with the freedom to speak and act more freely than in the south, particularly regarding political rights movements. Affluence and a growth in production of cars, radios and the like, meant that what was once seen as a luxury only the wealthy could afford, now became available to many. Obviously, the changes were not perfect (eg. job opportunities for women were limited, and wages lower than their male counterparts; African Americans had more rights in the north than in the south, but were still discriminated against socially and politically), but in general , 1920’s America saw an expansion of rights for many.
ReplyDeleteIt seems agreeable that the 1920’s was a more progressive decade than many others preceding it, however the notion that it contained a universal expansion of rights for Americans is somewhat misplaced. Arguably the biggest achievement of this decade was the newfound freedom of women after gaining suffrage in 1920, however this doesn’t mean progress for other groups rights was equally as fruitful. The right to drink alcohol for example was taken away. There was resurgence in the Klu Klux Klan, a group whose premise was involved with denying rights to certain groups. The 1920s, like most eras was not one of perfect progress, but rather a case of two steps forward, one step back.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite evident that the 1920's marked a decade in which rights in America expanded greatly, however mainly in terms of gender. The expansion and tireless work of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) paid dividends with the 19th amendment being ratified in August of 1920. This new found freedom and entitlement led to a sexual revolution among women with the "Flappers" leading the way, embracing there sexuality, and in turn changing the perception of women's sexual roles within a relationship. The increased understanding of birth control as well as the acceptance of female desire begin to pave ways for women's roles. Despite this progress however statistics show that for all the major changes to women's rights, women in work only increased from 23-24% between 1920 and 1930
ReplyDeleteAs the 19th amendment was ratified in the 1920’s and woman were given the right to vote, of course there was an expansion of rights for many female Americans. Additionally with more and more emphasis on the use of birth control, some woman felt that they had gained a new level of control over their body, which can also be seen as an expansion of rights. Another development of the rights for woman was that more and more females were accepted in employment and into the work place. Although woman had been given the right to vote there was still a limitation for black woman who were systematically marginalized across the south. Essentially many Americans did experience an expansion of rights but many Americans did not.
ReplyDeleteTo a large extent it can be argued that the 1920’s saw an expansion of human rights for many Americans. The most prominent of these groups were women, who prior to the 1920’s had no voting rights and perceptibly less control over their own bodies. This changed in the early 20’s, firstly with the addition of the 19th amendment in 1920, which prohibits the right to deny any US citizen the right to vote based on sex. Secondly, a cultural change in which contraception became widely available and accepted empowered women with sexual freedom specifically their own fertility
ReplyDeleteIn 1920 the US Government passed a constitutional amendment legalising women’s suffrage. Some historians see this as the event that marked the beginning of a decade of rights expansion for all Americans. But though the 1920’s saw many more women move into the workforce, they were still very limited in the types of work they could participate in. The decade also saw the birth of the idea of women as consumers, subjugating women into a new disempowering role that only saw value in appearance. The systematic cultural and political disenfranchisement of African Americans in the southern states continued, and the racist white feminist movements were unable to see the intersection of the oppression of women and black people, and so did nothing to better the rights of black women.
ReplyDelete-Alex Callahan