The Sexual Revolution of the "Roaring Twenties": Practice or Perception?

#History: A Journal of Student Research Volume 1 Article 7 12-2016 The Sexual Revolution of the "Roaring Twenties": Practice or Perception? Shellie Clark The College at Brockport Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/hashtaghistory Part of the Cultural History Commons, History of Gender Commons, United States History Commons, and the Women's History Commons Repository Citation Clark, Shellie (2016) "The Sexual Revolution of the "Roaring Twenties": Practice or Perception?," #History: A Journal of Student Research: Vol. 1 , Article 7. Available at: http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/hashtaghistory/vol1/iss1/7 This Paper is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @Brockport. It has been accepted for inclusion in #History: A Journal of Student Research by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @Brockport. For more information, please contact . THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION OF THE “ROARING TWENTIES”: PRACTICE OR PERCEPTION? Shellie Clark, The College at Brockport Abstract Even after the passage of over 80 years, the perceived radical shift in morality in the 1920’s defies concrete definition. Many popular images seem to offer evidence that indicate a change in sexual propriety, with portrayals of scantily dressed flappers swigging illicit liquor from flasks, and racy advertisements for silk stockings showing off women’s legs, so soon after a time when women were covered from the neck to the ankle even at the beach. Religious and conservative leaders alluded to a total collapse of morality and blamed popular entertainment for degrading America’s youth. This paper analyzes primary sources from the 1920s in an effort to determine the attitudes of the people who experienced, and often shaped, the era. These sources suggest a wide variety of opinion among Americans and the existence of a fully developed sexual awareness lurking beneath the veneer of polite society long before the “roaring twenties.” Although it is not possible to prove or disprove a true “revolution” in sexual morality, this paper contributes to the ongoing discussion of the values which changed and those which were simply exposed by the light of a more tolerant time. [Keywords: United States, 1920s, sexuality, sexual mores, morality, fashion, flappers] The 1920s were a time of monumental change in nearly every aspect of American life, but perhaps none more conspicuous than sexuality. Since the arrival of the Puritans, polite society in America gave the impression that human sexuality was acceptable only within the bounds of marriage, and only as a slightly distasteful means of procreation. There was doubt about the propriety of sexual education even when limited to informing young brides and grooms about what to expect on their wedding night, and it was not unusual for new brides to be shocked and disgusted when they discovered what was expected of them. Birth control was condemned by the church and the media, who could not justify preventing conception within marriage and certainly would not condone sexual activity outside of marriage. As new forms of entertainment and communication contributed to an evolving popular culture, however, an interesting phenomenon became clear - people were interested in sexual behavior. In fact, they would pay to see it. Motion pictures, plays, songs, novels¸ and advertising all reflected the market for sexually-themed entertainment. Vice police, media, churches, and reform groups tried desperately to reign in the production and consumption of material they deemed to be obscene, but their efforts were met with limited success. Their dire warnings about the degeneration of America’s youth not only went unheeded but were met with increasing instances of the establishment defending the younger generation. Through an examination of primary documents including books, magazine and newspaper articles, and social hygiene reports, Clark, Shellie. “The Sexual Revolution of the ‘Roaring Twenties’: Practice or Perception?” #History: A Journal of Student Research, n. 1 (December 2016), Brockport, NY: Department of History, The College at Brockport, S.U.N.Y.: 92-101. #History: A Journal of Student Research, Number 1 this paper will show that sexuality in the 1920’s underwent a more radical change in perception than in reality, while noting some real shifts in behavior among the younger generation. To understand the shift in perception, we must first understand how sexuality was viewed prior to the 1920’s. American culture was heavily influenced by Protestant values, which included chastity, modesty, and the link between sexuality and original sin. 1 In spite of the constant presence of prostitution, pregnancy outside of marriage, pornography, homosexuality, and other examples of “deviant” behavior, it appeared that the majority of society had overwhelmingly accepted the idea that sex was a private matter between a married man and woman, and not a source of recreation but a necessary evil for the serious business of procreation. Yet an eye-opening survey by Dr. Clelia Mosher, conducted between 1892 and 1920, reveals that a surprising number of educated Victorian women who participated in the survey had at least some knowledge about sex and reproduction prior to their marriages, and that many of them were enthusiastic wives who enjoyed healthy sexual relationships with their husbands.2 Many women, when questioned about the purpose of intercourse, listed pleasure along with reproduction and increased marital affection, chipping away at the notion that publicized values of the era were homogenously accepted.3 The epidemic of venereal disease among American soldiers during World War I led to a crisis in values regarding prophylaxis and shed light on some realities of sexual behavior. An estimated 96% of cases of venereal disease were contracted prior to a soldier’s entrance into the service, illustrating the prevalence of sexual activity even before reaching the brothels of Europe, in spite of mainstream America’s reluctance to acknowledge it.4 As men with sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea began filling infirmaries and seriously affecting the military’s available manpower, the reality became impossible to ignore.5 Distribution of the “male sheath” and sexual education for soldiers became a necessity of war for many nations, and just one of many dirty secrets of military service not to be discussed in polite company. As the war ended, however, the national discussion about prophylactics and birth control was just heating up. Condoms and diaphragms were fiercely opposed by religious groups. Kathleen Tobin explained, “The nation’s churches would react to new notions of sexuality, the more conservative ones formulating close links between female immorality and contraceptives.”6 The federal government upheld that belief with the passage of the Comstock laws in 1873, defining contraception as obscene and making contra (...truncated)