Masculinity Of The American New Woman In The 1920s

The 1920s was an era of economic prosperity. The new woman was the symbol of the era. Her appearance, performance, marriage and family and employment presented new features. During the decade, there was a mannish fashion of women, such as mannish appearance, professions and sports activities.In American culture, female masculinity is a special gender identity with the union of femininity and masculinity. It is also subordinated masculinity, different from dominant male masculinity. Male masculinity is an inherited and normative masculine identity and men's objective was towards success with status and privilege. While masculine women pursue freedom, independence and dynamism enjoyed by men, and they know that they look nothing but boys. So they do not really want to be a man, but show masculine fashion of women. The fashion of female masculinity in the 1920s America was mainly reflected on mannish image of bobbed hair, simple and casual clothes, smoking, and entry into public areas for work and participation in competitive sports activities.Bobbed hair and simple, casual clothes were two main features of women's mannish fashion in the 1920s America. A great number of women cut their hair for freedom and convenience in caring for hair or taking part in activities. Mannish dressing was obvious in American society. Women took off corsets, multi-layered petticoats, floor-length skirts and put on simple and sporty suits, blouses, and skirts to the knee. This change emancipated the body of woman, gave woman great freedom of movement and was conducive to her good health.Entry into the professions was the new woman's main achievement in the 1920s. After WWI, new women's aspiration for career grew. They wanted to live an independent and meaningful life by professions. A large number of new women entered white-collar professions, such as clerical and sales work, and radiated independent and charming atmosphere in offices. The careers of women scholars challenged intellectual and cultural stereotypes and proved women's academic ability.Another public area that the new woman entered was sports. The 1920s was golden time of sports. Women had their opportunity in sports. Women's sports in the 1920s grew in number of participants and in variety of activities. Sportswear was very popular in women's fashion and embodied the sense of independence and freedom. Women participated in individual sports like golf, tennis, swimming and team sports like basketball, and showed their independence, self-confidence and strength. There were many athletic organizations which supported women's sports, such as WNBA, WSA, AAU, NAAF, and FSFI. And women athletes had excellent performance in international games, especially in the Olympics of the 1920s, which not only showed their vigor and individuality, but also won the honor for the country.To sum up, the American new woman's masculinity of the 1920s was a popular fashion with social atmosphere of prosperity. During the decade, American women had experienced many changes in appearance, employment, and sports. Although the image of the new woman suffered many criticisms of"too masculine", The American new woman indeed got physical emancipation, freedom, independence and expression of individuality.