The Roaring Twenties In Australia
The 1920’s, or the “roaring twenties” was the beginning of a modern age. For many Australians, it was a time for breaking out, of questioning and changing old values and behaviour and enjoying the good life. This “good time decade” made many changes including technological advances, the economy strengthened, the barrier of isolation began to break, communications improved and the population grew. However the most significant change was that of women during the 1920s. The 1920s was about enjoying the peace and the good things of life. The wealth of some people and the introduction of jazz music, new fashions, motion pictures, wireless and motor cars earned the decade the title of the “roaring twenties”. Jazz came from the United States and along with it came some of the atmosphere of America in the 1920s, with an emphasis on booze. The great barrier of isolation began to break down with the growing popularity of the automobile and other forms of transport came of age as Australians began to take the Roaring Twenties to the air.
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Prohibition In Austrailia
Australia never had full prohibition well not quite. The noble experiment was an American thing. It failed spectacularly too, resulting in a rise of organised crime centered around illegal booze and the speakeasies that sold it. Australia's own infamous 'six o'clock swill', introduced a few years before American Prohibition was a complete failure men would go to bars get absolutely mortal go home a six and would cause much havoc. there was an increase in domestic violence, break ups and family troubles.
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The Women Of Australia In The 20's
Women’s low wages reflected social attitudes. Women were expected to devote their lives to their families. Most jobs were closed to them. Marriage could be a choice for men but for most women it was an economic necessity. Marriage, meant dependence on their husbands for money, so women had little power in society. Despite this lack of power, several women went through struggle for change. Vida Goldstein, being one of these women campaigning for women’s rights, running two magazines: the Woman’s sphere (ran throughout 1900-05) and the Woman voter (ran throughout 1909-19). She also stood for election to the council several times and, she was unsuccessful, but her election campaigns made men and women more aware of inequality. The last states to allow women to stand for election to Parliament were New South Wales in 1918, Western Australia in 1920, Tasmania in 1921 and Victoria in 1923. It was an achievement then for a woman to be elected to Parliament shortly after gaining this right, but Edith Cowan did this in 1921 when she was elected the member for West Perth. When she took her seat in the western Australian Legislative Assembly she became the first woman to be elected to any Australian Parliament. After this, organizations like the Edith Cowan’s National Council of Women and the Women’s service Guild appeared and had some success in influencing legislation in the 1920s. They also made people aware of “women’s issues” and undoubtedly inspired many women who were not involved in politics to have the courage and belief that it was possible to change society in ways that benefited women.