Final answer:
Flappers represented a new era of female independence in the 1920s, known for their fashion and social liberties, but were primarily popularized through media representations rather than embodying the majority of American women's lifestyles at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Flappers were a popular symbol of the 1920s, representing a new era of female independence and social freedom. They were known for their distinctive fashion, with shorter skirts and bobbed hair, as well as their willingness to flout social conventions by smoking, drinking, and dancing to the jazz music that defined the era. Despite their iconic status, flappers did not represent the majority of American women at the time. The widespread public image of flappers was most significantly spread through D) Media representations, including magazines, newspapers, and advertisements. This portrayal, often depicting the endless party and new morality, both fascinated and scandalized the nation. It was the media that amplified the flapper stereotype and solidified it as the defining image of an era marked by significant changes in women's roles and the growth of their political power following the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.