A new breed of females was slowly beginning to emerge in the early 1900s and they couldn’t help but attract attention from all, especially writers. The 1920s was a decadent, fast-paced decade filled with glamour, hope, and endless possibilities. No longer were they going to be held back by the ancestral Victorian customs by which they were raised. Mass involvement of women in voluntary organizations to aid the war effort led to the coalescing of social classes. The flapper represented that woman who had not only fought for political rights but was also struggling to ensure social equality. Young women during the age were more sexually vibrant than ever; they were much more open about sex in general and were not afraid to show it. Openness related to sexual awareness also allowed women to recognize that their gender submission, which had dominated the cultures that came before them, was no longer necessary. The birth of mass culture, as well as the introduction of new entertainment and music and the illegalization of alcohol through Prohibition, all contributed to the social and political awareness of young women living in 1920s America. Despite the modern-day notion that flappers (the most rebellious of the young women during the 1920s) had money because of the conception that only the elite had influence over society, it was timidly suggested by reporters of the time that "there were lots of flappers who weren't rich -- beginning young female artists, superior office girls, professional or pseudo-professional girls, apprentice writers, precious lady bums, or what not. They were also seen flapping about. Sexual freedom, as highlighted by the media, the automobile, and new technology were all rooted in the social transformation that was taking place.

Artists and writers of the 1920s rejected the old social norms and the new business society that had emerged as a result technological advances, and embraced the freedom of expression that the Jazz Age introduced; and as a result, much of the writing done in this decade reflected the changes that society was undergoing. Many authors wrote fiction, but even then, the majority of that fiction was still based on real-life experiences during the Twenties. One of the most famous authors to emerge from this vibrant decade was F. Scott Fitzgerald. There was no better author to document such an age than a man also caught up in the middle of it. Fitzgerald was the poster boy for the extravagant decade and chose to focus the majority of his writings on all of the splendor, spoils, and aftermath of those who chose the party lifestyle. Originally born as Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, before shortening his name after publication, he shares his name with the famous songwriter of the same name who wrote the "Star Spangled Banner." In 1920, Fitzgerald married his very famous and unpredictable wife, Zelda, with whom he had maintained contact during his time in the Army. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel was very popular with the war generation and brought him almost immediate fame and fortune. However,he quickly developed a playboy reputation, and became well-known for his heavy drinking and continuous partying, which, again, became something that many of his works were based around. After the debut of his first two successful novels, F. Scott’s career began to dwindle because he could no longer find inspiration. He and Zelda moved to Europe, more specifically, Paris, where he unintentionally became part of the Lost Generation.

Ce bine-am ris, da' totusi... pizdulicea garantat se crede chemata la lidersheep, de-alea de-ale lor, chestii & diverse socoteli. Iar mie nici s-o pis in freza nu-mi vine, ca io sincer sa fiu si cind ma pis pe fata fetelor ma pis totusi pe femei mai inteligente plus ca mai cultivate de-atitica. Mult mai. Foarte mult mai.

Nu-s solutii.

Western Kentucky University
TopSCHOLAR®Honors College
Capstone Experience/ThesisProjects
Honors College at WKU
6-26-2017
The Transformation of Gender and Sexuality in1920s America: A Literary Interpretation
Taylor Gilkison
Western Kentucky University,
taylor.gilkison172@topper.wku.edu
Follow this and additional works at : https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1688&context=stu_hon_theses
Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, and the Literature in English, North America Commons
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Presented in Partial Fulfillmentof the Requirements for the Degree Bachelor of Arts with Honors College Graduate Distinction at Western Kentucky University
ByTaylor G. Gilkison May 2017
CE/T Committee: Professor David Serafini, Advisor Professor Susann Davis, Second Reader Brittany M. Dodds, Third Reader
Copyright by Taylor G. Gilkison 2017

I dedicate this thesis to Iced White Chocolate Mochas, to my $7 red Christmas candle from Target, to the Gatton babies, to my roommates (Kaitlyn, Paige, and Emileigh) for putting up with all my crazy antics, and, of course, to my loving parents without whom I could not have done this without.