Self-Made Women in the 1920s United States: Literary Trailblazers

1920s female authors such as Anzia Yezierska, Anita Loos, Mae West, Josephine Lovett, Nella Larsen, Mourning Dove, Djuna Barnes, Amy Lowell, Gertrude Stein, Bessie Smith, and Dorothy Parker wrote counter-narratives to the sexism, racism, classism, and homophobia women faced during the Jazz Age, encouraging readers to become autonomous individuals and full citizens and maintain supportive relationships with other progressive women.

Format: Hardback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

In the vibrant decade of the 1920s, a remarkable uprising unfolded, as women of that era boldly challenged the prevailing standards of womanhood that had permeated US culture. Flappers and feminists emerged as the vanguards of this transformative movement, fearlessly expressing their thoughts and actions, inspiring countless other women to join their cause. This captivating book delves into the profound literary contributions of eleven remarkable female authors who chronicled this spirited revolt. Anzia Yezierska, Anita Loos, Mae West, Josephine Lovett, Nella Larsen, Mourning Dove, Djuna Barnes, Amy Lowell, Gertrude Stein, Bessie Smith, and Dorothy Parker stand as trailblazers, fearlessly penning counter-narratives to the sexism, racism, classism, and homophobia that women encountered during the Jazz Age. Through their novels, poems, plays, film scenarios, and blues lyrics, these visionary writers offered diverse pathways for female readers to embrace autonomy and full citizenship. By engaging in a groundbreaking dialogue between their works, the author highlights the various approaches that female readers could adopt to become empowered individuals and active participants in society. Moreover, these literary masterpieces encouraged readers to forge supportive relationships with other progressive women, fostering a collective effort to attain the political power, social status, economic independence, sexual freedom, and artistic recognition that rightfully belonged to them. In essence, this book serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of women in the 1920s, as they fearlessly defied societal norms and paved the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Weight: 499g
Dimension: 228 x 160 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793628329