In the late 19th century, a revolutionary figure emerged in the face of Victorian ideals of femininity—the New Woman. Defying societal norms of the time, she challenged the confines of femininity and pursued her passions, an education, and even a professional career, ambitions that reflected in her new look.

From the 1890s Gibson Girl who shed layers of clothing and left the confines of the house, to the suffragette of the 1900s who fought for her rights to vote even on the street, from the 1910s patriots who joined the war effort and substituted men in every aspect of social life to the 1920s flapper who saught fan and freedom above all: the New Woma is each and every one of them.

Proposed as an image of freedom, but also criticised and objectified, she became a powerful symbol of modernity, embodying both the hope for the future and the fear of change.

Delve into ‘Enter the New Woman’ and meet this transformative figure. From her origins in opposition to the Victorian “True Woman” ideal to the apex of her freedom of expression in the 1920s, this exploration navigates the complexities of her identity and what she might have left to us.

You’ll find here:

• When the New Woman first appeared and why she was different from anyone before her
• How the New Woman experience evolved over four decades
• Women involved in WWI and the suffrage movement
• The more mature expression of the New Woman: the 1920s flapper

Or do you prefer the Discover the 1920s Boxset?