I would think that after the abolishment of slavery at the end of the 19th century there would be an expansion of rights. However, in regards to Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation but claimed equality; it was something that appeared to be fair but in practise it wasn’t. In the lecture, Tim refers to Jacob Lawrence’s painting where the African Americans and whites are separated by a wall, in a bar. The whites have a fan and the others don’t. Similarly, the only bartender present is comfortably situated on the white side of the wall. This does not show any expansion for the rights of Americans in the 20’s as inequality still exists and segregation is implemented.
In regards to the rights of white females, the 1920’s were the beginning of newfound independence in relation to sex, voting and general human rights. As we learnt in this weeks lecture, the 1920’s were home to women who embraced the stereotype of the ‘flapper’ – sporting short haircuts and embodying more bold, daring and sexual characteristics. Although many women gained more power and independence in the 1920’s, black women were completely excluded from this revolution and expansion of rights. I also do not think we are able to say that women achieved complete equality in the 1920’s as we still see inequalities existing for all women to this day – However the 1920’s were a huge stepping stone in regards to equality for women.
The 1920's saw many different groups of Americans achieve newfound rights whilst others stayed stagnant. Whilst Women’s liberation gained rapidity and American women soon won the right to vote, African American women were excluded from this right. The image of "the flapper" that emerged in the 1920's also flaunted female sexuality but women were still confined to traditional values, as their overall aim was to find a husband. Furthermore the rights granted to African Americans in the 15th Amendment were overshadowed by the harsh effects of Jim Crow laws which enforced segregation and diminished any hope of any rights they had thought to achieve. Whilst a few rights were gained a step towards progression was taken the 1920's did not see the rights of American’s as a collective achieved.
The 1920’s was not a time for the expansion of rights in America. Granted, women gained the right the vote following the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in August 1920; however it did not practically extend to Black Women. Furthermore the continuing effect of the Jim Crow laws in America’s South combined with the Ku Klux Klan’s return ensured that the 1920’s was a decade of limited rights and great danger for Black Americans. Also Women’s Rights would not be extended until the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s; the “Flapper” image was only the beginning. Therefore the 1920’s was not a time of rights expansion for many Americans.
The 1920’s saw the emergence of various foundations of rights for many Americans. Women experienced the dawning of a new era, which saw the shift of traditional ideals and introduction of new liberties. The movement for equality saw the American women experience new positions in the workplace led by the National Women’s Party (NWP). With that being said these rights excluded black women and lesbians. Women’s rights were not accomplished during this decade, in terms of reaching equality, although the 1920’s played an essential role in recognizing crucial shifts along with introducing the building blocks to the rights of women.
To some extent the 1920s saw an expansion of rights for many American’s, however, these rights did not extend to everyone. Although women were granted the vote in August of 1920 and during this time also experience increased freedom to work, drink and smoke in public, they were still faced with inequality as they were expected to conform to social norms and make securing a husband there main aim. Moreover this period saw no increase in rights for Black Americans, as Black women were still denied the right to vote and as a whole they were still faced with the discrimination of Jim Crow laws in the South and the informal colour line, discrimination in employment, lower wages, race riots, and residential segregation in the North. Black Americans were also faced with violence, public lynching and the reemergence of racists groups such as the Klu Klux Klan, which fought for white supremacy. Despite seeing women granted the vote overall the 1920’s did not see an expansion in rights for many Americans.
Whilst the ratification of the Women’s Suffrage Amendment on August 18, 1920 began the era with promising advancements, this was the highpoint of the 1920’s in terms of the expansion of rights. Although there was a new place for women in the workplace, these roles were low status, low pay and had little mobility. The image of the “flapper” brought with it freedom to dance, drink and enjoy sex, but as the radical women of the previous era began to realize that, despite all their efforts, they were still unable to have complete independence, the need for cosmetic beauty and a husband-winning personality began to creep into the flapper fad ultimately undermining it’s original feminist ideals. After surging forward in the previous era, women of the 1920’s took a much less aggressive stand; and as Mary Garden stated, “to stand still means, paradoxically enough, to go backwards.”
The 1920’s saw an expansion of Americans’ rights, with the impetus being the 1920 ratification of the 19th amendment granting female suffrage. These political rights for women gave rise to social freedoms including the expansion of women’s rights over their own bodies, seen in Margaret Sanger’s public promotion of birth control. Concurrently, the 1920’s saw a large increase in the ‘Great Migration’ of black people from Southern countryside to Northern cities. Upon arrival in the North black people were no longer restricted by Jim Crow laws, expanding their social and political rights to be able to elect black political representatives.
For some, the burgeoning call for civil rights was a fruitful cause. For many blacks, the Great Migration northward offered new opportunities in spite of the lack of new rights. However, new groups and calls for influence in politics put this in motion for African Americans. That being said, black men and even more so black women were still mostly subject to conservative views on racial segregation and suffered as such. White women however, saw a boon in rights. The Women's Suffrage Amendment in 1920. Women not only started assuming more functional options such as the right to vote and hold new jobs previously unavailable. On a more social spectrum, they also began to take on the free-loving more liberal personality types of the 'flapper' which encompassed everything from their public behaviour to their style of dress.
During the 1920s, the rights of white female women were expanded, in regard to the fact that they were granted the right to vote. However, for many black Americans (particularly in the south), the 1920s were a time of oppression and disfranchisement, popularised and enforced by Jim Crow laws. Such laws legalised segregation and ensured that black women were prohibited from voting, and also introduced policies that reduced the capacity for black men to vote. Racial inequality extended to the streets where segregation was readily seen in numerous aspects of every day life and was reinforced by physical violence. Although white women were given the right to vote, the severe and ongoing racial inequality in America during the 1920s meant that many Americans did not experience an expansion of rights.
Despite the woman’s suffrage movement being successful in their goal of gaining the right to vote, not many Americans experienced an expansion of rights during the 1920s. The only group that experienced an expansion of rights were women but with positive changes also came restrictions. Firstly, the huge step in women’s suffrage only applied to white women. The black community experienced essentially no expansion of rights during this time. And although the new ‘flapper’ image allowed women to push sexual boundaries, there were groups excluded from this including older women and lesbians. ‘Flappers’ also promoted independence and individuality although, as a fad, flappers can hardly be seen as individual and while independence was a nice ideal, women still found it difficult to truly achieve it. The 1920s was seemingly a time of sexual revolution, but the same stringent social norms still existed, namely the lack of education surrounding reproduction and birth control (as the dissemination of an information in regards to this was illegal). It is true that women experienced an expansion of rights in terms of pre-marital sex being more acceptable but this only applied when marriage was intended eventually.
When contemplating the issue of rights in America, one must consider the scope and capacity for change in the US in the 1920’s. Emerging from a time as tumultuous as the people of America experienced in the 19th Century, one can imagine what strength it took to move forward, even in the small ways they did. The 20th century brought with it an expansion of, technology, of social norms, and indeed an expansion of rights. Changes in fashion, etiquette, and sexual freedom all contributed to empowering women in a way never before seen, and in August, 1920 this newfound empowerment saw the 19th amendment passed, giving white women of all rank the right to vote. The challenges and trials these pioneering women faced are not to be passed off without recognition. It is not accurate to say that there was no expansion of rights for many Americans in the 1920’s, we must consider the great step forward this amendment was! Perspective is a great tool in the exploration of history, without it, these events can be passed off as ‘not extensive enough’ or ‘not all encompassing’, when in fact, it was a great revelation to many American’s lives, regardless of the fact that it did not also include black women.
I would think that after the abolishment of slavery at the end of the 19th century there would be an expansion of rights. However, in regards to Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation but claimed equality; it was something that appeared to be fair but in practise it wasn’t. In the lecture, Tim refers to Jacob Lawrence’s painting where the African Americans and whites are separated by a wall, in a bar. The whites have a fan and the others don’t. Similarly, the only bartender present is comfortably situated on the white side of the wall. This does not show any expansion for the rights of Americans in the 20’s as inequality still exists and segregation is implemented.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the rights of white females, the 1920’s were the beginning of newfound independence in relation to sex, voting and general human rights. As we learnt in this weeks lecture, the 1920’s were home to women who embraced the stereotype of the ‘flapper’ – sporting short haircuts and embodying more bold, daring and sexual characteristics. Although many women gained more power and independence in the 1920’s, black women were completely excluded from this revolution and expansion of rights. I also do not think we are able to say that women achieved complete equality in the 1920’s as we still see inequalities existing for all women to this day – However the 1920’s were a huge stepping stone in regards to equality for women.
ReplyDeleteThe 1920's saw many different groups of Americans achieve newfound rights whilst others stayed stagnant. Whilst Women’s liberation gained rapidity and American women soon won the right to vote, African American women were excluded from this right. The image of "the flapper" that emerged in the 1920's also flaunted female sexuality but women were still confined to traditional values, as their overall aim was to find a husband. Furthermore the rights granted to African Americans in the 15th Amendment were overshadowed by the harsh effects of Jim Crow laws which enforced segregation and diminished any hope of any rights they had thought to achieve. Whilst a few rights were gained a step towards progression was taken the 1920's did not see the rights of American’s as a collective achieved.
ReplyDeleteThe 1920’s was not a time for the expansion of rights in America. Granted, women gained the right the vote following the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in August 1920; however it did not practically extend to Black Women. Furthermore the continuing effect of the Jim Crow laws in America’s South combined with the Ku Klux Klan’s return ensured that the 1920’s was a decade of limited rights and great danger for Black Americans. Also Women’s Rights would not be extended until the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s; the “Flapper” image was only the beginning. Therefore the 1920’s was not a time of rights expansion for many Americans.
ReplyDeleteThe 1920’s saw the emergence of various foundations of rights for many Americans. Women experienced the dawning of a new era, which saw the shift of traditional ideals and introduction of new liberties. The movement for equality saw the American women experience new positions in the workplace led by the National Women’s Party (NWP). With that being said these rights excluded black women and lesbians. Women’s rights were not accomplished during this decade, in terms of reaching equality, although the 1920’s played an essential role in recognizing crucial shifts along with introducing the building blocks to the rights of women.
ReplyDeleteTo some extent the 1920s saw an expansion of rights for many American’s, however, these rights did not extend to everyone. Although women were granted the vote in August of 1920 and during this time also experience increased freedom to work, drink and smoke in public, they were still faced with inequality as they were expected to conform to social norms and make securing a husband there main aim. Moreover this period saw no increase in rights for Black Americans, as Black women were still denied the right to vote and as a whole they were still faced with the discrimination of Jim Crow laws in the South and the informal colour line, discrimination in employment, lower wages, race riots, and residential segregation in the North. Black Americans were also faced with violence, public lynching and the reemergence of racists groups such as the Klu Klux Klan, which fought for white supremacy. Despite seeing women granted the vote overall the 1920’s did not see an expansion in rights for many Americans.
ReplyDeleteWhilst the ratification of the Women’s Suffrage Amendment on August 18, 1920 began the era with promising advancements, this was the highpoint of the 1920’s in terms of the expansion of rights. Although there was a new place for women in the workplace, these roles were low status, low pay and had little mobility. The image of the “flapper” brought with it freedom to dance, drink and enjoy sex, but as the radical women of the previous era began to realize that, despite all their efforts, they were still unable to have complete independence, the need for cosmetic beauty and a husband-winning personality began to creep into the flapper fad ultimately undermining it’s original feminist ideals. After surging forward in the previous era, women of the 1920’s took a much less aggressive stand; and as Mary Garden stated, “to stand still means, paradoxically enough, to go backwards.”
ReplyDeleteThe 1920’s saw an expansion of Americans’ rights, with the impetus being the 1920 ratification of the 19th amendment granting female suffrage. These political rights for women gave rise to social freedoms including the expansion of women’s rights over their own bodies, seen in Margaret Sanger’s public promotion of birth control. Concurrently, the 1920’s saw a large increase in the ‘Great Migration’ of black people from Southern countryside to Northern cities. Upon arrival in the North black people were no longer restricted by Jim Crow laws, expanding their social and political rights to be able to elect black political representatives.
ReplyDeleteFor some, the burgeoning call for civil rights was a fruitful cause. For many blacks, the Great Migration northward offered new opportunities in spite of the lack of new rights. However, new groups and calls for influence in politics put this in motion for African Americans. That being said, black men and even more so black women were still mostly subject to conservative views on racial segregation and suffered as such. White women however, saw a boon in rights. The Women's Suffrage Amendment in 1920. Women not only started assuming more functional options such as the right to vote and hold new jobs previously unavailable. On a more social spectrum, they also began to take on the free-loving more liberal personality types of the 'flapper' which encompassed everything from their public behaviour to their style of dress.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 1920s, the rights of white female women were expanded, in regard to the fact that they were granted the right to vote. However, for many black Americans (particularly in the south), the 1920s were a time of oppression and disfranchisement, popularised and enforced by Jim Crow laws. Such laws legalised segregation and ensured that black women were prohibited from voting, and also introduced policies that reduced the capacity for black men to vote. Racial inequality extended to the streets where segregation was readily seen in numerous aspects of every day life and was reinforced by physical violence. Although white women were given the right to vote, the severe and ongoing racial inequality in America during the 1920s meant that many Americans did not experience an expansion of rights.
ReplyDeleteDespite the woman’s suffrage movement being successful in their goal of gaining the right to vote, not many Americans experienced an expansion of rights during the 1920s. The only group that experienced an expansion of rights were women but with positive changes also came restrictions. Firstly, the huge step in women’s suffrage only applied to white women. The black community experienced essentially no expansion of rights during this time. And although the new ‘flapper’ image allowed women to push sexual boundaries, there were groups excluded from this including older women and lesbians. ‘Flappers’ also promoted independence and individuality although, as a fad, flappers can hardly be seen as individual and while independence was a nice ideal, women still found it difficult to truly achieve it. The 1920s was seemingly a time of sexual revolution, but the same stringent social norms still existed, namely the lack of education surrounding reproduction and birth control (as the dissemination of an information in regards to this was illegal). It is true that women experienced an expansion of rights in terms of pre-marital sex being more acceptable but this only applied when marriage was intended eventually.
ReplyDeleteWhen contemplating the issue of rights in America, one must consider the scope and capacity for change in the US in the 1920’s. Emerging from a time as tumultuous as the people of America experienced in the 19th Century, one can imagine what strength it took to move forward, even in the small ways they did. The 20th century brought with it an expansion of, technology, of social norms, and indeed an expansion of rights. Changes in fashion, etiquette, and sexual freedom all contributed to empowering women in a way never before seen, and in August, 1920 this newfound empowerment saw the 19th amendment passed, giving white women of all rank the right to vote. The challenges and trials these pioneering women faced are not to be passed off without recognition. It is not accurate to say that there was no expansion of rights for many Americans in the 1920’s, we must consider the great step forward this amendment was! Perspective is a great tool in the exploration of history, without it, these events can be passed off as ‘not extensive enough’ or ‘not all encompassing’, when in fact, it was a great revelation to many American’s lives, regardless of the fact that it did not also include black women.
ReplyDelete