in the 1920s, some women were called flappers... why?
2006-12-20 17:08:37 · 8 answers · asked by alcstevie 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
flapper
"forward young woman," 1921 slang, from flap (v.), but the exact connection is disputed. Perhaps from flapper "young wild-duck or partridge" (1747), with ref. to flapping wings while learning to fly; but other suggested sources are late 19c. northern Eng. dialectal use for "teen-age girl" (on notion of one with the hair not yet put up), or an earlier meaning "prostitute" (1889), which is perhaps from dial. flap "young woman of loose character" (1613). In Britain the word took on political tones in ref. to the debate over voting rights.
" 'Flapper' is the popular press catch-word for an adult woman worker, aged twenty-one to thirty, when it is a question of giving her the vote under the same conditions as men of the same age." ["Punch," Nov. 30, 1927]
2006-12-20 20:08:07 · answer #1 · answered by AskAsk 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In college we learned that those women were basically doing their own type of women's liberation. Not only did they wear dresses that hit above their knees rather than their ankles, a lot of them had fringes. Dancing the Charleston and other fast-moving dances made the fringes "flap." There was another political reason that I'm too sleepy to remember. If you've ever seen The Great Gatsby or Chicago, those women are great examples of flappers.
2006-12-20 17:17:36 · answer #2 · answered by jackdaniels4meee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flappers were dancers, it also was the attire of women during the roaring twenties, mostly here in America. They wore hats over their ears, and wore certain types of dressers for the dances.
look up the roaring twenties, www.history.com and then look up the fashions of that period you will get pics as well
2006-12-20 18:33:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"The term "flapper" first appeared in Great Britain after World War I. It was there used to describe young girls, still somewhat awkward in movement who had not yet entered womanhood."
2006-12-20 17:11:15 · answer #4 · answered by Wes H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was a style of dress and dance. More of a cultural aspect of the time.
2006-12-20 17:11:25 · answer #5 · answered by J. R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was the style of skirt that they wore, and the dance they did where the skirts/dresses were "flapped" around.
2006-12-20 17:12:58 · answer #6 · answered by themountainshaker 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
THEIR DRESSES WERE "OH MY GOD" SO SHORT ! YOU COULD SEE THEIR ANKLES AND THEN THEY DANCED THE "CHARLESTON" YOU COULD SEE THIE KNEES! THEY WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME AND SOCIETY "FROWNED" UPON THEM! THEY DRANK,SMOKED, HAD SEX!!!!(AND LOVED IT)!!! AND SOME OF THEM CUT THEIR HAIR!! OH MY GOD...REBELLION!!! I LOVE FLAPPERS!!!
2006-12-20 17:17:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
their dresses were short and loose at the bottom. thus, they "flapped"
2006-12-20 17:11:19 · answer #8 · answered by Doc Manhattan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋