Final answer:
The last century has seen significant shifts in societal norms about modesty and sexuality, with the 1920s marking an acknowledgment of sexual desires in healthy relationships, the introduction of new terms that described previously taboo behaviors into polite society, and the establishment of a double standard that impacted the roles and freedoms of men and women differently.
Step-by-step explanation:
Changes in Society's Mores on Modesty and Sexuality
Over the last one hundred years, societal norms regarding modesty and sexuality have undergone significant changes. In the 1920s, there was a public acknowledgment that a satisfying sexual relationship was an indicator of a healthy relationship, rather than a sign of female insatiability. This reflected a shift from a higher expression of virtue in women’s modesty to acknowledging sexual desires.
The 1920s also saw a change in the behaviors of 'respectable' young women who no longer pretended that sexual behaviors and desires did not exist. New terms like 'petting' became acceptable in polite society, signaling a shift towards more open discussions of sexual behavior.
Moreover, the dynamics between traditional and modern societal standards for women materialized in the form of a double standard, where men enjoyed looser social morals and greater sexual freedom. For women, a tug-of-war persisted between adhering to traditional behaviors and adopting new, more liberated identities as exemplified by the emergence of the flapper—a symbol of youth and defiance against conventional norms.