Revolution in Manners and Morals by Frederick Lewis Allen

In the article, “Revolution in Manners and Morals”, author Frederick Lewis Allen describes in detail the post WWI era, and women’s roles and expectations in society. After prohibition had taken effect and groups of progressives tried to change the structure of America, many people that were against these new ideas emerged. Hate groups became more critical of Americans structure, and tried to cleanse the poisons that had earlier been practiced like prostitution, drinking, and gambling. But this of course was very impossible to do.

The “Manners and Morals” of America had seemed to be very poor. In this era of the post war era, women had also broken out of their usual place and started doing things that were not approved of. Sex had become very common and women had started to show more skin, and be more sexual as. The common expectations and stereotypes of women being good, and marrying the perfect man and having perfect kids had soon diminished. Young women had started to sneak out of the house and go out with boys and have sex.

Other times, women would go out drinking which was illegal and unapproved of. New fast dance music like jazz had quickly popularized and this became a big attraction for young men and women. Now couples were dancing close and kissing more often. New changes in women’s apparel had started to emerge. The short skirt was introduced, but local laws required the length to not exceed 9 inches. Sometimes even shin bones and knees were shown which was very rare. The one piece bathing suit had been introduced and was heavily watched by local police enforcers. The overall attitude towards women had turned into having respect for their intelligence and sophistication, to party animals with only one thing one their mind, Sex. Actions to minimize this were taken by new bills that were introduced in New York, Utah, and Ohio. At this point in American history women had the biggest focus.

They received the vote when the 19th Amendment passed in 1920, and at the same time got new jobs. They were changing socially and getting more opportunities economically. Women had now started to get new jobs like working in the office as opposed to working at Marshal Fields or any other department store. A bigger percentage of women had received High School education and this therefore put them in a higher status. Home life had become much easier and now women did not think of their main roles in life as housekeepers. New machines had been invented in the kitchen and for the living room. The vacuum cleaner had revolutionized cleaning, and this made manual labor way easier. Women now had changes to leave the house and do other important things to them.

Now, instead of men being the sole providers to the family, women had started to make more money and even moved into their own apartments and small houses. The new sexual attitude had educated these young women about sex faster and therefore, women got married earlier. But with early marriage also came a bigger divorce rate. In the late 1920s the divorce rate had sprung up from about 14% to about 28%, a 50% increase. Women had soon become commercialized by big businesses and every businessman knew that sex sells. They had been put in cigarette ads and many had taken up smoking themselves. Cosmetics had commercialized and many young women started thinking as physical appearance as an important aspect to life and love.

New hair styles were introduced and new tighter fitting clothes were seen. This new revolution that had taken place after World War I was an experiencing time in American women’s lives. It had made America less conservative and more tolerant to unapproved actions but overall it had benefited the nation because if this never happened, then the country would never be like it was today. Allen does a great job explaining new roles and events that helped shape America and make it how it is today.