What is a 'Flapper'?
In general, flappers are considered to be fashionable young women who enjoy themselves by flouting societal conventions of their time. In the 1920s flappers would dress in short skirts (as seen on the left), listen to unconventional music, such as jazz, and bob their hair. The idea of being so different and unconventional first came about though pop culture, from a Frances Marion film, The Flapper. The image from this film and others of its kind, would soon achieve great popularity, The image would be of women who would attend jazz clubs at night and act provocatively and inappropriately. Flappers had a strong influence on the development of women's rights in areas such as voting. They were not religious and did not have positive views towards marriage, often referring to wedding rings as 'handcuffs.' Swearing and smoking was also not uncommon for flappers, along with premarital sex, drinking and use of birth control. However, the act of being a flapper was fairly expensive, as a result of money spent on clothes, cigarettes and alcohol. Therefore, it did not last beyond the 1930s, as a direct result of the Wall Street Clash.