Historical Evolution of Female Social and Gender Roles

Women's domestic and social roles evolved sporadically between 1920 and 1950. The prosperity and lack thereof, exemplifying each time period, significantly affected the shifts that occurred in these roles. Prominent events of influence were post World War I (1920s), The Depression and the New Deal, World War II, and Post World War II (1950's). Women were affected as a whole but the extent and way in which various groups were affected differed. Married white women, single white women, and African American women's plights and experiences began distinguishing themselves. This paper will consider the influences of each period on each group of women specifically.

The 1920s: The 1920s brought about various types of "new" women. Married White women often earned an education and attempted to juggle careers and family. The single white women were swinging single. The flapper girls challenged old ways of thinking and behaving. Aspirations included education and careers as well as families. Pre-marital affairs became more prominent. African American women endured another demographical shift which brought about additional struggles in their plight for self liberty and employment opportunities. They attempted to move out of domestic work but managed to move very little. The gain was in that they set some limits on types and duration of service. The 1920's also opened doors in the entertainment field with a booming African American club industry in Harlem.