Table of Contents Page 1 - Table of Contents
Page 2 - Editorial Page 3 - Where have all the Gibson Girls Gone? Page 4 - Evolving to Evolution Page 5 - Evolving to Evolution Political Cartoon Page 6 - Is New Women's’ Fashion a Threat American Values? Page 7- New Women’s Fashion Advertisment Page 8 - What has come of our youth? Page 9 - Youth Political Cartoon Page 10 - Improvements to Cities due to Cultural Values
Then & Now By the Editors.
At the turn of the century, we wouldn’t have thought that America would be the way it is today. We wouldn’t have thought that women would become scandalous, crime rates would go up, youth would get in trouble, and the cities would change. Women gained the right to vote recently, in 1922, but some men think that giving women the right to vote is more worrying than prohibition, a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages. A few women have even had the chance to run for congress, and they also created the League of Women, which passed Sheppard-Towner act and created health services for pregnant women. For the first time, birth control is available to all women as well. With women gaining all of these rights, it has made them feel empowered as well as some feeling as though they can do whatever they want and wear whatever they want. Some of these women, were referred to as flappers and vamps. Others, think the world should stay as it was before they had more rights. Gibson girls, are some of these women. They wear tight corsets to obtain an hourglass shape, wear long dresses with long sleeves, and don’t expose any skin. The dresses they wear have many layers, and they also had very long hair, but they mostly wear it up in a bun. Flappers, on the other hand, wear tons of makeup, have more of a boyish look to them, and don’t try to get an hourglass shape like the Gibson Girls.
Flappers also color their hair and cut it very short compared to Gibson Girls hairstyles. They also wear straight, loose comfortable dresses. Vamps are very similar to flappers, but the difference between the two is that they wear dresses with low neck lines, and wear extremely short skirts and shorts. This isn’t true only for female adults, teens are also showing signs of rebellion. People often think that America’s teens are destroying our culture and values; they regularly go to parties and on dates without adult chaperones and have started drinking and smoking at a much younger age. Teens also have more access to cars, making car crashes happen more often due to drunk driving. Science and religion has also been a controversial issue, between two groups known as Modernists and Traditionalists. Modernists look to science, rather than the bible, to explain how the physical world works. They accept only fact and theories that could be tested and supported with evidence. Modernists believe religion and science can coexist. Traditionalists, however, are more likely to see science and religion in conflict. This isn’t an easy fight either; Tennessee became the first state to enact a law that prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools. John T. Scopes volunteered to teach evolution in his biology class. He was arrested and put on trial. Scopes lost, and the judge imposed a $100 fine, which was overturned a year later because it is illegal for judges to impose fines. All of these things, coupled with cultural differences, makes these days feel very difficult and controversial.
Where have all the Gibson Girls gone? By: Michelle Kim
Women all over the America changed
in the 1920’s, from behavior, fashion, and political views. Before the 20’s, Gibson girls have all disappeared into different kinds of women. The Suffrage Movement changed the image of women. The Suffrage Movement, as many of you may know, created the 19th Amendment, the right for women to vote. Women now feel more free to do and act how they want. In 1922, women voted at the polls for the first time. Men thought that voting was the only thing women would do after the 19th Amendment, yet they were wrong. Women are climbing to be equal as men, Ruth Owen, Florida’s first woman congressman, showed that it was possible. A middle-aged, middle-class woman in the 1920’s are shattering the standards of women behavior. Before this, they would be expected to wear a corset, an hourglass figure, lots of layers clothing, a more “respectable” look. Now, they cut their hair short, and wear very short skirts. These women are also known as flappers. Vamps are also women like Flappers, but they go all out, with the short hair, short skirts, low cuts, very scandalous women. Flappers and Vamps brake traditional behavioral patterns with their recent behavior. They also drink alcohol, smoke, and their
fashion is so much different. Flappers are now a fashion icon in the fashion world, they broke old uncomfortable fashion behavior which is now replaced with a slim boyish appearance. It is now the most inspirational time for fashion since women broke barriers of fashion. Their looks are more scandalous, they show a lot of leg, low neckline, sleeveless or backless, their hair was more boyish and short. People see this as the “new women” but women see it as the new fashion. There are lots of changes in society about women too. Women used to rarely work at factories, schools, or shops but nowadays the economy forced millions of women to get jobs. By 1929, more than 1-quarter of the US women and more than half of the single women are employed. They have jobs like being bankers, retail, factory, and domestic work. Since sex was more of a common thing in the 1920’s, women also are given the legal access to birth control. A few women managed to run for public office and have created the league of women voters. Women convinced congress to pass the Sheppard-Towner Act which created health services for pregnant women. Women are changing drastically lately in the 1920’s by breaking social barriers, but they are becoming strong independent women.
Evolving to Evolution Should evolution or creationism be taught in schools, and what's the deal with the Scopes Trial? By: Lilli Duncan In schools across America, people are speculating whether or not evolution or creationism should be taught in our schooling systems, when the answer is staring us in the face. If we've always known something to be true, then it should be taught to our children, right? Creationism is the belief that the universe all living organisms were created by a divine act or being, while Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution was the thought that all plants and animals, humans included, evolved from simpler forms of life, the process itself taking place over hundreds of thousands of years through what some called, “natural selection.” Others called it “Survival of the Fittest.” There is a debate between Modernists, who believe in evolution, and Traditionalists, most of which believing in creationism, as to whether or not evolution or creationism/the bible should be taught in schools. Modernists look to science rather than the bible for answers to explain life’s questions, and only accept tested evidence from nature. Traditionalist only accept tradition and the bible as answers to some questions. They also fear modernist views and believe that their ideas will lead to the disintegration of democracy and to Social Darwinism. Some Traditionalists also see the bible as a law or the literal word of god. Darwin’s Theory is most controversial part of the Traditionalist versus Modernist views. Traditionalists are more likely to see Modernists and themselves in a conflict or war due to their differing beliefs, whereas Modernists believe both sides can co-exist. In some places, such as Tennessee, Traditionalists are winning this debate due to Tennessee being the 1st state to ban the teaching of evolution in schools. In the small town of Dayton, a man named George Rappleyea challenges science teacher John Scopes to teach evolution in his class, claiming that you can’t teach biology without teaching evolution, and then
after Scopes agreed to teach the class, asked the American Civil Liberties to defend him before going to the police and having Scopes arrested so he would have to go to court. The case had gotten so much attention from people all over the world that even William Jennings Bryan, former U.S. Secretary of State, decided to defend Tennessee, while Clarence Darrow, lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union, defended Scopes. In the end, Scopes lost the trial and the judge imposed a $100 fine, which was overturned a year later seeing as it is illegal for anyone other that the jury to impose fines. This Trial show how rooted Traditionalist views are in some places and how in some places, Modernists have a difficult fight on their hands. But, was this trial for nothing? Tennessee technically broke the laws of our constitution’s 1st Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Specifically, the Establishment Clause and the right to free speech were violated when Tennessee made the teaching of evolution illegal. Is this not all the more reason why evolution should be taught in schools? Creationism is based on religious view, and evolution is based on scientific fact, which is (A) not in violation of any of our rights as Americans, (B) important for students to know their place in nature, and (C) it’s critical knowledge for doctors to know. If we descended from apes, then can’t we use their anatomy to help better understand ours? Without completely letting go of the ideals that tradition and creationism have imprinted on our society, we should learn to accept evolution as a part of nature and begin teaching it in schools.
Is New Women’s Fashion a Threat To American Values By: Natalie Rugger
It was frequently thought, mainly by older generations, that flapper girls were simply threats to traditional American values. Women who once dressed only in heavy dresses extending to their ankles, expected to be pure and innocent- no drugs,
Since the colonization of America, and even
drinking, or sex had now expressed themselves in
before that, major changes in women’s behavior or
nearly the opposite way. This was such a dramatic
appearance have been viewed as a threat. Despite
change that it was taken as a threat. Yet, despite so
this, I don’t believe it is- not simply because I’m
many people’s fears, there was no destruction of
female, but because I personally find it ridiculous to
typical values, many people today still pertain to the
see something as minor as women expressing
American traditions observed even before the
themselves as any sort of a threat.
flapper trend began. Because this trend influenced
Slightly prior to and during the 1920s, a new
only women- let alone only how they dressed and
fashion-oriented trend among an entire generation
acted- it only had a societal impact, not one on the
of young American women began to rise in
sanctity of America. The changes in society allowed
popularity. This generation became known as
women’s fashion to progress to the point it’s at
flapper girls- women with characteristics typically
today, despite still being seen as immoral by a
along the lines of short, bobbed hair, straight and
minority of people.
loose dresses, heavy makeup, and straight waists,
In conclusion, a change in fashion trends
giving this look the nickname ‘garçonne’- a
does not rip apart the traditional fabric that makes
feminized version of the French word for ‘boy’. It
up America. The rise of the flapper girl brought only
was because of their looks- considered abnormal at
erratic behavior from young women
time- these women were considered promiscuous. Along with this, flappers were known for smoking and drinking frequently, which only furthered people’s beliefs that they were immoral and reckless.
What has Come of our Youth? By Anna Hitchcock
Right now parents of this generation's children are arguing whether youth culture of the United States of America are destroying their futures and America's future. Some are saying that their behavior is too risky and inappropriate. Others are saying that this new culture is more freeing for the youth. I think that although there are good things
about the youth of America, but the negative aspects outweigh the good. One good thing is the emerging fashion for young women, the short hair, more makeup and shorter skirts. The new fashion is freeing for women because they were able to express themselves and not have to dress as society wants them to. Some may say that it is too revealing but in my opinion it is relatively just not what their parents wore as teenagers. Another good thing is youth are developing independence and responsibility through the easier access to cars. They are able to get places like school or social events without parents having to drive them (A burden taken off parents shoulders!). They also have to take care of this car, pay for the repairs, pay for gas, and any other expenses which teaches them how to spend their money responsibly. Music is also a good thing that is coming out of the youth of America is the music and dances. The music encourages more creativity because they are combing mainstream music with jazz. Music also encourages looser dances like the charleston instead of the stiff ballroom dances.
One bad thing is that teenagers are drinking and smoking which is a risk to their health. Also due to the drinking the amount of teen car crashes is rising because they are driving home drunk after parties. Another thing that is bad is the that there are no supervision at dates or parties. They don’t necessarily need adults at their dates, going with friends would be just as good. But instead of going with friends they are going off by themselves and making out or having sex. They are also dating for the fun of making out, when dating should be about finding a life partner and finding what you need to look for and like in people. At parties there needs to be an adult chaperone but there are none and that is leading to necking, or touching one another while making out, or just straight out hooking up. This culture has led teen boys to believe that girls are only good if they are easy to get. So parents the next time you are complaining about how your teenage daughter dresses or the music they listen to, remember there could be a lot worse your child could be up to. To the parents that are letting their kids going off to parties make sure that have a chaperone and make sure that they have friends (other than their dates) going with them. Our generation’s children futures are in our hands.
Improvements of Cities due to Cultural Values
Cultural values in the 1920’s are good for the cities in America. Before the 1920’s, urban overcrowding
became a problem which eventually led to extremely unsanitary living conditions. There were 800 inhabitants per acre. Tenements were 4-6 stories tall with four families on each floor, living in tiny rooms with little fresh air, little natural light, and primitive plumbing. The high density of the buildings were also a cause of serious fires. With so many people crowded together, disease became more common, especially in children. Thankfully, these things didn’t last forever. In early 1920’s, there was a decrease in rural living due to the drop in crop prices, and the European demand for U.S. Farm products dropped sharply. With the average income of farmers being $1,000 and the need for $3,000 to maintain a middle-class lifestyle, 19 million people moved from farms to cities in search of economic opportunities. In addition, hundreds of thousands of farmers lost their farms. The demand for workers increased, wages rose, and the average income per capita rose 37%. The movement to cities offers freedom to explore new ways of thinking and living. The improved development of steam power (heated water to run the equipment) enables the growth of factories. Waterways, railroads, cars and trucks changes the size of cities. Improvements to medicine and public health includes provision of clean water, sanitation, and waste management. New developments include orchestra and art galleries along with department stores. Mass production reduces the prices of cars which make them affordable to a wider population. Street lighting is a way to prevent night time crimes and to promote traffic safety. The improvements to railroads include steel rails and large steel locomotives which makes the transportation of goods more efficient. With all of the urbanization taking place, city authorities and organizations work hard to provide green spaces such as parks and recreation areas, along with libraries, and stadiums for the love of baseball. Other concerns include traffic signals and administration buildings. In conclusion, although many changes had to occur and some jobs were lost, the cultural values of freedom, success, and health became a reality, rather than a dream, with urbanization.
Article by: Sydney Schalla
By: Sydney Schalla