WOMEN IN THE 1920’S

BEFORE THE 1920S Before the 20’s,

women had few rights Women were also

expected to conform to very strict social rules

However, WW1 changed women’s roles in society and their perception of themselves

During the 20’s many women, especially young women, refused to go back to the old ways

This is an agreement between a Miss Jones, teacher and the Board of Education of Middleton School, whereby Miss Jones agrees to teach in the Middleton School for a period of eight months beginning September 1, 1923. The board of Education agrees to pay Miss Jones the sum of $75.00 per month. Miss Jones agrees:

1.Not to get married. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher marries. 2.Not to keep company with men. 3.To be at home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless she is in attendance at a school function. 4.Not to loiter downtown in ice-cream parlors. 5.Not to leave town at any time without the permission of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 6.Not to smoke cigarettes. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher is found smoking. 7.Not to drink beer, wine, whiskey. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher is found drinking beer, wine or whiskey. 8.Not to ride in a carriage or automobile with any man except her brothers or father. 9.Not to dress in bright clothes. 10.Not to dye her hair. 11.To wear at least two petticoats. 12.Not to wear dresses more than two inches above the ankle. 13.To keep the schoolroom clean; to sweep the classroom floor, to scrub the floor at least once a week with soap and hot water, clean blackboards daily; start the stove at 7 a.m. so that the room will be warm by 8 a.m. when the children arrive; to carry out the ashes at least once a day. 14.Not to use face powder, mascara or paint the lips.

THE FLAPPER

Young women cut their hair short, wore short dresses, smoked, drank in public and earned their own money and DANCED!

Their was also a sexual liberation as women talked openly about sex, had multiple sexual partners and conception became more widely accepted

These women were nicknamed flappers because of the noise their un-tied shoes would make as they walked

Women also entered sport in large numbers

THE EDMONTON GRADS

The 1928 Olympics

THE WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT

One of the first and most powerful women’s movements

Educated about the evils of liquor

Promoted responsible citizenship and an end to domestic violence

Extremely influential in passing Prohibition Laws

Prohibition was the direct result of female suffrage – women were now a powerful political force

THE PERSONS CASE

In 1928, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that women are not “persons” and are not eligible to become Senators

The Famous Five - Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney & Henrietta Edwards -fought to have women recognized as full “persons” under the law

Finally won the case by travelled to England and having the decision overruled by the Privy Council

KEY POINTS Women fought for more

freedom and opportunity in the 1920’s

Flappers were young women who defied the rules

The Women’s Christian Temperance Movement was the first big women’s movement – helped start prohibition

The Famous Five (led by Emily Murphy) fought to have women declared “persons”