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Examine both America in the 1920s and America now. Can you say with complete conviction the American society of now is no worse? Put yourself in the shoes of s

Examine both America in the 1920s and America now. Can you say with complete conviction the American society of now is no worse? Put yourself in the shoes of someone who isn't white, or is female, and ask the same question. There may be aspects of modern American society that are worse, but it's certainly better for a lot of people.

nopassrecover 17y ago
I picked 1920s particularly for this reason as rights for women, non-whites AND homosexuals (which appear to still face an uphill battle in the US) had massive gains socially (it takes social acceptance before political acceptance). I will not pretend rights were better but this was an era that precipitated the modern rights advances. The 1930s witnessed a return to Victorian conservatism. Examples: Women's suffrage movement continues to make gains as women obtain full voting rights in the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1906, New Zealand in 1909, Denmark in 1915, in the United States in 1920, and in the United Kingdom in 1918 (women over 30) and in 1928 (full enfranchisement); and women begin to enter the workplace in larger numbers. (wikipedia) While blacks continued to be discriminated against there was increasing representation and labour gains as a result of increased migration to cities. In particular, democrats, socialists and communists all gained increasing black votes and voiced support for black rights ultimately leading to FDR's election (significant black votes) in 1932 and the New Deal which spelled significant rights gains for non-whites. (paraphrased from wikipedia and other "sources"). Until the early 1930s, gay clubs were openly operated, commonly known as "pansy clubs."[citation needed] The relative liberalism of the decade is demonstrated by the fact that the actor William Haines, regularly named in newspapers and magazines as the #1 male box-office draw, openly lived in a gay relationship with his partner, Jimmie Shields.[23] Other popular gay actors/actresses of the decade included Alla Nazimova and Ramon Novarro.[24] In 1927, Mae West wrote a play about homosexuality called, The Drag,.[25][26] and alluded to the work of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. It was a box-office success. West regarded talking about sex as a basic human rights issue, and was also an early advocate of gay rights. With the return of conservatism in the 1930s, the public grew intolerant of homosexuality, and gay actors were forced to choose between retiring or agreeing to hide their sexuality.[citation needed] (source wikipedia)
- abstractbill 17y ago
  That's actually some interesting stuff, thanks. I had no idea the 1930s were such a regression from the 1920s in the US for civil rights. However, I still think 2010 is better than either of those for most people.
  - nopassrecover 17y ago
    Yeah definitely is. I guess I should be talking about the first derivative of social rights. I believe this was higher in the 1920s than now.
- protomyth 17y ago
  Well, since I grew up in "Indian Country" and Native American weren't granted citizenship until 1924, didn't really get full citizenship or suffrage until 1948, had schools that beat the language out of people, got forced moved off the reservations resulting in a huge percentage of suicides, and finally got some laws to protect the remaining culture in the last 30 years; I'm thinking we are better off then 1920. Oh, not to mention the longer lifespans and generally better conditions then 1920 (indoor plumbing being standard is kinda nice).
  - nopassrecover 17y ago
    I guess my point isn't that 1920s were better than now completely, but that the rate of social progress made in the 1920s (including citizenship for Native Americans as you've pointed out) was unparalleled. If that had continued my argument is that by 1940 society would be where it is now, instead of taking 1948 for full Native American rights, the 1960s for an end to segregation or 2003 for homosexuality to be legal. Do you think if the 1920s society could trade with modern society it would take long to exceed our lifespans with their healthier lifestyles and our modern medicine and plumbing as you've pointed out?
    - protomyth 17y ago
      I think your view of 1920 society is limited to what was happening in a few urban centers to a few select minorities or social groups. I have heard stories from my grandma and great grandma's time and the 1920s was no "social revolution" for them. The citizenship from 1924 wasn't very real and more token then anything else. So, I guess to answer your question, no. I believe the 1920s society would have a lot of growing up to do and any back tracking from the economic problems of the 1930s would be intensified by today's economic problems combined with globalism. The 1920s started our isolationism that was only lifted (for the common man) by us being bombed.

nopassrecover 17y ago

I picked 1920s particularly for this reason as rights for women, non-whites AND homosexuals (which appear to still face an uphill battle in the US) had massive gains socially (it takes social acceptance before political acceptance). I will not pretend rights were better but this was an era that precipitated the modern rights advances. The 1930s witnessed a return to Victorian conservatism. Examples: Women's suffrage movement continues to make gains as women obtain full voting rights in the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1906, New Zealand in 1909, Denmark in 1915, in the United States in 1920, and in the United Kingdom in 1918 (women over 30) and in 1928 (full enfranchisement); and women begin to enter the workplace in larger numbers. (wikipedia) While blacks continued to be discriminated against there was increasing representation and labour gains as a result of increased migration to cities. In particular, democrats, socialists and communists all gained increasing black votes and voiced support for black rights ultimately leading to FDR's election (significant black votes) in 1932 and the New Deal which spelled significant rights gains for non-whites. (paraphrased from wikipedia and other "sources"). Until the early 1930s, gay clubs were openly operated, commonly known as "pansy clubs."[citation needed] The relative liberalism of the decade is demonstrated by the fact that the actor William Haines, regularly named in newspapers and magazines as the #1 male box-office draw, openly lived in a gay relationship with his partner, Jimmie Shields.[23] Other popular gay actors/actresses of the decade included Alla Nazimova and Ramon Novarro.[24] In 1927, Mae West wrote a play about homosexuality called, The Drag,.[25][26] and alluded to the work of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. It was a box-office success. West regarded talking about sex as a basic human rights issue, and was also an early advocate of gay rights. With the return of conservatism in the 1930s, the public grew intolerant of homosexuality, and gay actors were forced to choose between retiring or agreeing to hide their sexuality.[citation needed] (source wikipedia)

abstractbill 17y ago
That's actually some interesting stuff, thanks. I had no idea the 1930s were such a regression from the 1920s in the US for civil rights. However, I still think 2010 is better than either of those for most people.
- nopassrecover 17y ago
  Yeah definitely is. I guess I should be talking about the first derivative of social rights. I believe this was higher in the 1920s than now.
protomyth 17y ago
Well, since I grew up in "Indian Country" and Native American weren't granted citizenship until 1924, didn't really get full citizenship or suffrage until 1948, had schools that beat the language out of people, got forced moved off the reservations resulting in a huge percentage of suicides, and finally got some laws to protect the remaining culture in the last 30 years; I'm thinking we are better off then 1920. Oh, not to mention the longer lifespans and generally better conditions then 1920 (indoor plumbing being standard is kinda nice).
- nopassrecover 17y ago
  I guess my point isn't that 1920s were better than now completely, but that the rate of social progress made in the 1920s (including citizenship for Native Americans as you've pointed out) was unparalleled. If that had continued my argument is that by 1940 society would be where it is now, instead of taking 1948 for full Native American rights, the 1960s for an end to segregation or 2003 for homosexuality to be legal. Do you think if the 1920s society could trade with modern society it would take long to exceed our lifespans with their healthier lifestyles and our modern medicine and plumbing as you've pointed out?
  - protomyth 17y ago
    I think your view of 1920 society is limited to what was happening in a few urban centers to a few select minorities or social groups. I have heard stories from my grandma and great grandma's time and the 1920s was no "social revolution" for them. The citizenship from 1924 wasn't very real and more token then anything else. So, I guess to answer your question, no. I believe the 1920s society would have a lot of growing up to do and any back tracking from the economic problems of the 1930s would be intensified by today's economic problems combined with globalism. The 1920s started our isolationism that was only lifted (for the common man) by us being bombed.