Final answer:
During the 1920s, women's roles changed with the emergence of the 'New Woman,' who was better educated and more professionally assertive. Women gained the right to vote, entered the professional workforce in greater numbers, and began challenging traditional gender roles, although the majority still faced low-paying, stereotyped jobs.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1920s, the role of women saw substantial changes in both personal autonomy and in the workforce. First, women's suffrage became recognized, enabling women to vote and participate more fully in the political process. Second, the idea of the 'New Woman' emerged, representing an individual who was often better educated and sought more personal and financial independence. The representation of this new role was that women were more assertive and began to enter the workforce in greater numbers.
Prior to the 1920s, women were predominantly confined to domestic roles and those who worked typically held positions in 'female' jobs that featured routine work, low status, and low pay. However, during the 1920s, with almost one million female college graduates, women began working in professional roles such as nurses, teachers, librarians, and some even became bankers, lawyers, and police officers. These positions challenged the traditional confines of womanhood and provided opportunities for greater financial freedom and societal respect.
The 'New Woman' also sought a balance between work and home life, further altering the general perception of gender roles. Nevertheless, despite these advancements, most women remained employed in low-paying, gender-stereotyped jobs, and there was still significant room for progression in terms of equal rights and wages.