HALF DOLLS and FLAPPERS
AKA
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!
Introduction | Overview | Bohne | Chocolatiere Dolls | Dressel & Kister | Goebel | Hertwig | Heubach
Historical | Japanese | Schneider | Dresser Dolls | Works Cited
Historical | Japanese | Schneider | Dresser Dolls | Works Cited
Half Dolls are tangible reminders of the Flapper Era. I have always been fascinated with the changes that happened to women during that tumultuous time period. We owe the strong women of that era a great debt of gratitude. To view many amazing half doll examples, click on the picture below. Also Theriault's Vanity Fair Catalog is a treasure trove of the finest half dolls and related items.
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote on August 18, 1920, thanks to the persistence of many strong suffragettes such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Voting rights were only the beginning. The 1920s was a lively period in many ways. With their new-found feeling of freedom, many young women took up the mantra that would be repeated many decades later by singer Cyndi Lauper in her song "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!".
"Flappers were northern, urban, single, young, middle-class women". (Flappers) Job opportunities had opened up for women because of new technologies and a more consumer-oriented society. Many were employed as telephone operators and sales women as well as secretaries. Having salaries of their own opened up new worlds to women and a new feeling of independence. When not working, women attended jazz clubs and vaudeville shows. Smoking and drinking alcohol became more common for women in the flapper era, in spite of Prohibition.
Along with the Flapper Era came the "Flapper look" characterized by short, bobbed hair. This was as much of a shock to the older generation of men and women, as were long hair on men in the 60s and tattoos today. For centuries women had been silenced and subjected to restrictive social rules and now women wanted to experiment. Besides short hair, dresses went from modest ankle length to above the knee. This was probably even more shocking than when my parents' and grandparents' generations first laid eyes on Twiggy in her mini-skirt. Having grown up in the era of the "flower child", I can relate to the flappers. (U.S. History)
The Flappers sure did have some fun!! A nice break ... until the stifling era of the fifties as personified by the ever perfectly corseted pearled and gloved June Cleever.
"Flappers were northern, urban, single, young, middle-class women". (Flappers) Job opportunities had opened up for women because of new technologies and a more consumer-oriented society. Many were employed as telephone operators and sales women as well as secretaries. Having salaries of their own opened up new worlds to women and a new feeling of independence. When not working, women attended jazz clubs and vaudeville shows. Smoking and drinking alcohol became more common for women in the flapper era, in spite of Prohibition.
Along with the Flapper Era came the "Flapper look" characterized by short, bobbed hair. This was as much of a shock to the older generation of men and women, as were long hair on men in the 60s and tattoos today. For centuries women had been silenced and subjected to restrictive social rules and now women wanted to experiment. Besides short hair, dresses went from modest ankle length to above the knee. This was probably even more shocking than when my parents' and grandparents' generations first laid eyes on Twiggy in her mini-skirt. Having grown up in the era of the "flower child", I can relate to the flappers. (U.S. History)
The Flappers sure did have some fun!! A nice break ... until the stifling era of the fifties as personified by the ever perfectly corseted pearled and gloved June Cleever.
Introduction | Overview | Bohne | Chocolatiere Dolls | Dressel & Kister | Goebel | Hertwig | Heubach
Historical | Japanese | Schneider | Dresser Dolls | Works Cited
Historical | Japanese | Schneider | Dresser Dolls | Works Cited