he 1920’s more rights being given to women and African-Americans, though these rights were notoriously overlooked in many parts of the United States. With Jim Crow laws in place in many of the states African-Americans rarely allowed to vote, and were regarded third class citizens by the majority of white America. Even though on paper they were ‘equal’ education, employment, and housing was sub par to what white America was getting. Also, women being granted the vote didn’t change the discrimination faced by women in the workplace if they were employed, as the workforce had limited jobs available for women.
Mostly I agree that the 1920's did see an expansion of rights for many Americans, most notably to women, who presumable made up around 50% of the population. As Jessica Fernandez leads to white women did gain suffrage in the 1920s, largely due to the efforts of National America Women Suffrage Association (WNAWSA) and The National Women's Party. Black women however, particularly in the South, were still deprived of the vote presumable for the same reasons as black men, the Jim Crow laws. The fact that these organisations did not continue the fight for complete suffrage of black women in my eyes taints their accomplishments.
While I agree that the 1920's did see an increase in rights for some members of the population, other groups still remained largely restricted. After the 19th amendment was approved in August 1920, women in America were granted suffrage and were therefore allowed to vote. However, their determination for this right seemed to stop at caucasian rights, meaning that the African-American female population did not receive any benefits that were so badly fought for. This, as Jeroen stated, was largely due to the Jim Crow laws, which also restricted African-American men. This left a large portion of the population in the same place they were prior to the 1920's. Therefore I do believe that women, who represented roughly half the population of America, saw a great expansion of rights in this time period, though the African-American population reaped none of these benefits.
As others have contended, in the 1920s the right to vote for women was a central area in which rights in America had expanded, thanks to the political strategies of the NAWSA and the NWP. However, whilst a number of women did benefit from the approval of the 19th amendment – about half the population, as pointed out by Maddie – this was still limited to females of white descent. The fact that an entire race was still disenfranchised without the aid of such political figures like Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt symbolises a society still focused on racial discrimination. Thus, an expansion of rights was certainly achieved, but this was restricted to white women only.
1920's America witnessed the approval of the woman's vote, however the only people entitled to vote were those considered to be included in the nation's identity, namely being white females. This is the extent to which Americans in the 1920's experienced freedom, as the Jim Crow laws were being practiced throughout the 1920's. The Jim Crow laws involved the practice of segregation throughout America ultimately restricting the rights of African Americans. Although women's suffrage did signify an element of freedom in regards to gender discrimination within the white society, racial discrimination throughout this era placed restrictions on a larger fraction of the American society.
Running the risk of taking hindsight and currently accepted social norms for granted, I think the rights granted to white women were still fairly limited. While suffrage was granted, voting women were stigmatised in the media and their voting was regarded as upsetting the system whereby men were the primary family members engaging with the political and social sphere. Flappers may have defied traditional dressing conventions and flaunted their sexuality, but for many women securing marriage was still the primary objective in their social outings– that is settling into suburban life with children and a husband to secure their financial comfort. As discussed in this week’s readings, the idea of the career woman working her way up the ladder and making it on her own was not part of the agenda in the 1920’s. These are a few examples of how the ‘self-determining’ woman of the 1920’s was still very much restricted by social and political conventions. And I haven’t even mentioned advertising!
Although some here have argued that the rights of many Americans remained restricted during the 1920s, the emergence of powerful black and women's rights groups and their success in terms of suffrage should still be considered an extremely progressive step forward in the fight for American human rights. The rise in popularity and strength of black rights groups such as the NAACP and Garvey's UNIA, as well as the women's rights groups of the NWP and the NAWSA demonstrate this, as it was through organisations such as these that the message of women's and black male suffrage was made obvious to the American government and the general public. Although the lack of suffrage for black women and a general lack in other employment and opportunity rights for both women and African Americans suggests that the expansion of rights was not significant in terms of what these groups experience today, it is clear that the progress made during the 1920s was an immense change to what Americans had previously known.
I agree with the statement because of one main reason: the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in August 1920. It was a huge step forward for the country in women's rights and a reward to the hard-working members of the National Women’s Party and NAWSA. It also helped to reinforce the ever-increasing importance of American women's roles in society in a time when the lines between the public and private spheres were beginning to blur with the emergence of women into the workforce, their increasing public activism, Margaret Sanger's work in birth control and explosion of consumerism.
It can definitely be argued that white women in the 1920's were granted some expansion in their rights as American citizens. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for African-Americans or even Mexicans, women especially. Jim Crow laws are proof enough that blacks, although given the vote, were never truly a free people.
Although white women were granted suffrage, an important first step toward full equality, we do not see much beyond that. yes there was an increased enrolment of women in colleges and in the work force, but in reality, society's attitude towards the role of a woman had not shifted enough to warrant major change. we see this superficial change when examining the role of the woman in the workforce. a woman's role was to care for her 'boss' much like she would a husband, which in turn would increase her chance of bagging herself a husband who would be able to support her.
Whilst quite obviously women gaining the right to vote in the 1920's was a very significant event, I am inclined to agree with Aaron, in that it seems (unsurprisingly) that the perception of a woman's role in society was still very much of the 'loving wife, nurturing mother' mentality. This seemed to be exacerbated by the advertising world, which was targeting a new type of consumer (the woman) and reinforcing these overarching ideas about womanhood through advertising of, by today's standards, a pretty misogynistic nature.
I do agree that during the 1920s America did witness an expansion of rights; however this expansion was mainly in relation to Caucasian women. Women campaigned under the National American Women Suffrage Association and in August 1920 the 19th Amendment was approved and Caucasian women were granted the right to vote. However, African Americans were still denied the right to vote under the Jim Crow law. By exclusively granting White women the right to vote, it meant that it was no longer just a gender oppressed issue, it was now a racial segregation issues that saw African American women’s rights decline even more so.
I agree that clearly the 1920s saw an advancement in rights for many people in America. Most notably, women campaigned and achieved the right to vote, a substantial step in the quest for gender equality. As many people have said above, it appears that primarily the expansion of rights in 1920s America was fairly race specific. That is to say that although women went some way into achieving increased rights, other minorities, specifically african americans, were not as successful. They were not able to experience the same expansion of rights, still suffering under the Jim Crow laws.
While the 1920s was a period that saw the expansion of rights, I argue that it was only for some Americans, rather than many. Predominantly I would say the focus of the time was on women’s rights, specifically white women. However I think the element of most significance was the beginning of a change in the attitudes of Americans – a more liberal outlook, starting to question parts of society which had in the past been taken for granted and accepted as the way of life. Jade Newman
The expansion of rights throughout the 1920's was largely confined to white women. Under hard campaignin, white women were given universal suffrage; both black men and women were still denied these rights at this time.
More interestignly, women made steady and strong gains in the realm of 'soft rights'. They gained greater levels of independence both financially and socially. Though the stereotyped image of 'The Flapper' may have been largely confined to wealthy individuals of the time, such portrayals and actions of and by women served to lay a solid foundation for the women's independence movement that was to ramp up during the war years.
Throughout the 1920s America experienced a degree of cultural and political transformation regarding the rights of its female population. Winning the right to vote in 1920, the 19th Amendment of the US Constitution was ratified to recognise the white women’s political voice within the nation. This advancement of women’s political right however, neglected African American women.
Culturally, women in America redefined their traditional roles following the aftermath of WWI to conform to “an attractive personality”. As S. M Evans suggests, women became consumers where the ultimate product was financial security through the security of marriage. As such, I believe that women’s did not experience a significant social progression of rights, rather more of a transformation of approach to the same traditional ambition to become wives.
While the 1920s saw many groups that had previously been marginalised in American society struggle to enhance their rights, little tangible progress was made with regard to African-American and women’s rights. Aside from the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote, there was little more than a subtle shift in gender roles in the United States. The situation was similar for African-Americans. While the debate over how best to enhance the rights of African-Americans was waged between groups such as the NAACP and UNIA, very little progress was made, with Jim Crow laws and racism still prevailing. Nevertheless, while it is going too far to claim that the 1920s witnessed an expansion of rights, there is little doubt that the process started in this decade served to facilitate the reforms that occurred later in the 20th century.
he 1920’s more rights being given to women and African-Americans, though these rights were notoriously overlooked in many parts of the United States. With Jim Crow laws in place in many of the states African-Americans rarely allowed to vote, and were regarded third class citizens by the majority of white America. Even though on paper they were ‘equal’ education, employment, and housing was sub par to what white America was getting. Also, women being granted the vote didn’t change the discrimination faced by women in the workplace if they were employed, as the workforce had limited jobs available for women.
ReplyDeleteMostly I agree that the 1920's did see an expansion of rights for many Americans, most notably to women, who presumable made up around 50% of the population. As Jessica Fernandez leads to white women did gain suffrage in the 1920s, largely due to the efforts of National America Women Suffrage Association (WNAWSA) and The National Women's Party. Black women however, particularly in the South, were still deprived of the vote presumable for the same reasons as black men, the Jim Crow laws. The fact that these organisations did not continue the fight for complete suffrage of black women in my eyes taints their accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that the 1920's did see an increase in rights for some members of the population, other groups still remained largely restricted. After the 19th amendment was approved in August 1920, women in America were granted suffrage and were therefore allowed to vote. However, their determination for this right seemed to stop at caucasian rights, meaning that the African-American female population did not receive any benefits that were so badly fought for. This, as Jeroen stated, was largely due to the Jim Crow laws, which also restricted African-American men. This left a large portion of the population in the same place they were prior to the 1920's. Therefore I do believe that women, who represented roughly half the population of America, saw a great expansion of rights in this time period, though the African-American population reaped none of these benefits.
ReplyDeleteAs others have contended, in the 1920s the right to vote for women was a central area in which rights in America had expanded, thanks to the political strategies of the NAWSA and the NWP. However, whilst a number of women did benefit from the approval of the 19th amendment – about half the population, as pointed out by Maddie – this was still limited to females of white descent. The fact that an entire race was still disenfranchised without the aid of such political figures like Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt symbolises a society still focused on racial discrimination. Thus, an expansion of rights was certainly achieved, but this was restricted to white women only.
ReplyDelete1920's America witnessed the approval of the woman's vote, however the only people entitled to vote were those considered to be included in the nation's identity, namely being white females. This is the extent to which Americans in the 1920's experienced freedom, as the Jim Crow laws were being practiced throughout the 1920's. The Jim Crow laws involved the practice of segregation throughout America ultimately restricting the rights of African Americans. Although women's suffrage did signify an element of freedom in regards to gender discrimination within the white society, racial discrimination throughout this era placed restrictions on a larger fraction of the American society.
ReplyDeleteRunning the risk of taking hindsight and currently accepted social norms for granted, I think the rights granted to white women were still fairly limited.
ReplyDeleteWhile suffrage was granted, voting women were stigmatised in the media and their voting was regarded as upsetting the system whereby men were the primary family members engaging with the political and social sphere.
Flappers may have defied traditional dressing conventions and flaunted their sexuality, but for many women securing marriage was still the primary objective in their social outings– that is settling into suburban life with children and a husband to secure their financial comfort. As discussed in this week’s readings, the idea of the career woman working her way up the ladder and making it on her own was not part of the agenda in the 1920’s.
These are a few examples of how the ‘self-determining’ woman of the 1920’s was still very much restricted by social and political conventions. And I haven’t even mentioned advertising!
Although some here have argued that the rights of many Americans remained restricted during the 1920s, the emergence of powerful black and women's rights groups and their success in terms of suffrage should still be considered an extremely progressive step forward in the fight for American human rights. The rise in popularity and strength of black rights groups such as the NAACP and Garvey's UNIA, as well as the women's rights groups of the NWP and the NAWSA demonstrate this, as it was through organisations such as these that the message of women's and black male suffrage was made obvious to the American government and the general public. Although the lack of suffrage for black women and a general lack in other employment and opportunity rights for both women and African Americans suggests that the expansion of rights was not significant in terms of what these groups experience today, it is clear that the progress made during the 1920s was an immense change to what Americans had previously known.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement because of one main reason: the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in August 1920. It was a huge step forward for the country in women's rights and a reward to the hard-working members of the National Women’s Party and NAWSA. It also helped to reinforce the ever-increasing importance of American women's roles in society in a time when the lines between the public and private spheres were beginning to blur with the emergence of women into the workforce, their increasing public activism, Margaret Sanger's work in birth control and explosion of consumerism.
ReplyDeleteIt can definitely be argued that white women in the 1920's were granted some expansion in their rights as American citizens. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for African-Americans or even Mexicans, women especially. Jim Crow laws are proof enough that blacks, although given the vote, were never truly a free people.
ReplyDeleteAlthough white women were granted suffrage, an important first step toward full equality, we do not see much beyond that. yes there was an increased enrolment of women in colleges and in the work force, but in reality, society's attitude towards the role of a woman had not shifted enough to warrant major change. we see this superficial change when examining the role of the woman in the workforce. a woman's role was to care for her 'boss' much like she would a husband, which in turn would increase her chance of bagging herself a husband who would be able to support her.
Whilst quite obviously women gaining the right to vote in the 1920's was a very significant event, I am inclined to agree with Aaron, in that it seems (unsurprisingly) that the perception of a woman's role in society was still very much of the 'loving wife, nurturing mother' mentality. This seemed to be exacerbated by the advertising world, which was targeting a new type of consumer (the woman) and reinforcing these overarching ideas about womanhood through advertising of, by today's standards, a pretty misogynistic nature.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that during the 1920s America did witness an expansion of rights; however this expansion was mainly in relation to Caucasian women. Women campaigned under the National American Women Suffrage Association and in August 1920 the 19th Amendment was approved and Caucasian women were granted the right to vote. However, African Americans were still denied the right to vote under the Jim Crow law. By exclusively granting White women the right to vote, it meant that it was no longer just a gender oppressed issue, it was now a racial segregation issues that saw African American women’s rights decline even more so.
ReplyDeleteI agree that clearly the 1920s saw an advancement in rights for many people in America. Most notably, women campaigned and achieved the right to vote, a substantial step in the quest for gender equality. As many people have said above, it appears that primarily the expansion of rights in 1920s America was fairly race specific. That is to say that although women went some way into achieving increased rights, other minorities, specifically african americans, were not as successful. They were not able to experience the same expansion of rights, still suffering under the Jim Crow laws.
ReplyDeleteWhile the 1920s was a period that saw the expansion of rights, I argue that it was only for some Americans, rather than many. Predominantly I would say the focus of the time was on women’s rights, specifically white women. However I think the element of most significance was the beginning of a change in the attitudes of Americans – a more liberal outlook, starting to question parts of society which had in the past been taken for granted and accepted as the way of life.
ReplyDeleteJade Newman
The expansion of rights throughout the 1920's was largely confined to white women. Under hard campaignin, white women were given universal suffrage; both black men and women were still denied these rights at this time.
ReplyDeleteMore interestignly, women made steady and strong gains in the realm of 'soft rights'. They gained greater levels of independence both financially and socially. Though the stereotyped image of 'The Flapper' may have been largely confined to wealthy individuals of the time, such portrayals and actions of and by women served to lay a solid foundation for the women's independence movement that was to ramp up during the war years.
Throughout the 1920s America experienced a degree of cultural and political transformation regarding the rights of its female population. Winning the right to vote in 1920, the 19th Amendment of the US Constitution was ratified to recognise the white women’s political voice within the nation. This advancement of women’s political right however, neglected African American women.
ReplyDeleteCulturally, women in America redefined their traditional roles following the aftermath of WWI to conform to “an attractive personality”. As S. M Evans suggests, women became consumers where the ultimate product was financial security through the security of marriage. As such, I believe that women’s did not experience a significant social progression of rights, rather more of a transformation of approach to the same traditional ambition to become wives.
While the 1920s saw many groups that had previously been marginalised in American society struggle to enhance their rights, little tangible progress was made with regard to African-American and women’s rights. Aside from the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote, there was little more than a subtle shift in gender roles in the United States. The situation was similar for African-Americans. While the debate over how best to enhance the rights of African-Americans was waged between groups such as the NAACP and UNIA, very little progress was made, with Jim Crow laws and racism still prevailing. Nevertheless, while it is going too far to claim that the 1920s witnessed an expansion of rights, there is little doubt that the process started in this decade served to facilitate the reforms that occurred later in the 20th century.
ReplyDelete