One cause of the change in young women’s behavior was World War I which ended in November 1918. A lot of young men did not return home from the war, which left many women alone in their home.
Also, the horror of the war, and the Spanish flu epidemic which struck in 1918, inspired in young people a feeling that life is short and could end at any moment.
Therefore, young women wanted to spend their youth enjoying their life and freedom rather than just staying home and waiting for a man to marry them.
Political changes were another cause of the flapper culture. World War I reduced the grip of the class system on both sides of the Atlantic, encouraging different classes to mingle and share their sense of freedom. Women finally won the right to vote in the United States on August 26, 1920.
Women wanted to be men’s social equals. They wanted to be treated as a man and go smoking and drinking. Also, many women had more working opportunity and even taken the male jobs, who became doctor, lawyer, engineer and pilots. The rise of consumerism promoted the ideals of “fulfilment and freedom” that encouraged women to have their own thoughts on garments, career, social activities.
Society changed quickly after World War I. For example, customs, technology, and manufacturing all moved quickly into the 20th century after the interruption of the war. The rise of the automobile was an important factor in flapper culture, as cars meant a woman could come and go as she pleased, travel to speakeasies and other entertainment venues, and use the large vehicles of the day for their popular activity, petting parties.
Also, the economic boom allowed more people the time and money to golf, play tennis and take vacations, which required clothing adapted to their strenuous activities; the flapper’s slender silhouette was very suitable for movement. In this way, societal changes helped to advance the flapper culture.