Final answer:
The term 'New Woman' refers to the emergence of a new societal role for women that challenged conventional norms of the early 20th century. It included women's suffrage, higher education, and a greater presence in the workforce and social movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
When women began to challenge the traditional social views of women, the idea of the New Woman emerged. This was a time when women were gaining greater social, economic, and political freedoms. They were voting, driving, earning college degrees, and making choices that would please themselves. During the early 20th century, many industrialized nations awarded suffrage to women, acknowledging their increased presence in the workforce and their burgeoning economic power as consumers. Furthermore, the New Woman was characterized by her engagement in social and political causes, and the breaking down of barriers to higher education and public roles that were previously dominated by men.
These challenges to traditional roles were also seen in the increasing numbers of women joining organizations like the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and the Women's Christian Temperance Union, further promoting their involvement in community issues. The growth of the women's suffrage movement was both a result and a cause of women's increased education, mobility, and political activism. Additionally, women filled new roles in the workforce and more women's colleges were established, fostering a greater sense of independence and desire for more options in life.