For centuries the underlying physiological issues that inevitably accompanied the feminist movement hid beneath the excitement and glory of social revolution. Until recently, the repercussions of the immense societal pressure Americans put on women to achieve a particular definition of beauty were not acknowledged. Certainly as time evolved, women's ambitions and intentions for change did as well; that is, the Flapper's goals for women differed drastically from those of the Gibson Girl in that they focused on self-expression beyond physical appearance rather than the Gibson Girl who relied on her outward appearance to get the attention of men which ultimately limited the potential advancements of her movement. However, a common theme perpetuates throughout all eras of American femininity, and that is the notion that all American women, at any giving point in time, must constantly strive to attain a certain shared perception of modern femininity. The Steel-Engraving lady, the Voluptuous Woman, the Gibson Girl, the Flapper- they all collectively brought us closer to understanding what it means to truly achieve gender equality in the United States, but still women of those eras experienced a lack of individual freedom that allowed her to decide for herself what it meant to be beautiful. Even during the eras of discussed feminist entrepreneurs, there remained specific guidelines on what beauty really meant for the women of each generation as society dictated what look was to be praised and sought after rather than the individual.
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"Yet where Horatio Alger's heroes succeeded by pluck and luck, beauty was touted as the single means of women's advancement; each of the Floradora Girls married a millionaire. Such a startling example of upward mobility indicated a social as well as an aesthetic rivalry apparent in the subculture of sensuality." 28
27. Library of Congress. "Topics in Chronicling America - The Gibson Girl."
28. David, and Inis H. Weed. "What It Costs a Young Girl to Be Well Dressed."
29. Stage, Sarah. "Seeing Through American Beauty."
28. David, and Inis H. Weed. "What It Costs a Young Girl to Be Well Dressed."
29. Stage, Sarah. "Seeing Through American Beauty."