Sexuality
Before the 1920s there were only two types of women when it came to not being married. There were single women and prostitutes. If a woman had not been married but was seen with one other man she was considered a prostitute. During the 1920s this changed, because more and more women were seen dating and engaging in various activities with men. This change created a middle ground, were single woman engaged in sex outside of marriage. This quickly began to be the norm for young ladies during the 1920s. Some women even began to engage in sexual intercourse outside of marriage. During the 1920s engaging in sexual intercourse out of wedlock was known as “free love.” Soon women began to come out and say that they have had multiple sexual partners and many accepted this. Although free love had not become a norm during the 1920s, engaging in it did not make a woman automatically considered to be a prostitute. Many women during the 1920s used their sexuality to exsperss their feelings.
A promiscuous women
Sexuality is an art in its own way because women could express their feelings in the
clothes they wore as well as show how they felt through their body langage. Women would dress in flashy clothes that could show how they felt. One woman who expressed her sexuality through art of song was Bessie Smith. Bessie was a bold daring women. She adopted the new ways of women in the 1920s. Bessies most definitely did not hold anything back when singing. Bessie sang a song all about her craving for sex, the song was called I Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl. The fact that she sang this song publicy shows her new found confidence, and freedom of expression.
To hear Bessie's song I Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl click below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meuwKhPGItk
Marriage
Although most women engaged in free love and other activities with men, most still wanted to eventually get married. Marriage was still considered the cornerstone of most families during the 1920s. However, there were still a few women that cared more about making the world a better place than they did about getting married. The women that did this were known as spinsters and old maids. Women also began to work more, yet their husbands still expected them to come home and take care of the children and home. This is where the term section shift comes around. A second shift meant that most women would have two jobs, they would have their job outside the house and they would also have their job at their houses.
Same Sex Couples
Same sex couples did come on to the scene more during the 1920s than ever before; however, it was not accepted by many. People began to come out more during this time because they felt more confident to talk about their sexuality with all the rapid changes in society taken place. They only wanted people to accept them for who they were. The 1920s did allow for gays to be accepted much more. Little did the pioneers of the gays and lesbians during the 1920s know, that achieving equality for them would be an on going fight that is still fought today.
If you would like to read more about sexuality look below
http://voices.yahoo.com/the-decade-gave-birth-sexual-promiscuity-the-280024.html
If you would like to read more about sexuality look below
http://voices.yahoo.com/the-decade-gave-birth-sexual-promiscuity-the-280024.html