Great Gatsby, The: Flappers

The term flapper appears to have made its American debut in the February 1915 issue of the New York–based satire/arts review, The Smart Set: A Magazine of Cleverness. In an article in the review, author Henry L. Mencken introduced the word, which seems to have already been in use over in Britain to describe a certain type of young woman. In the United States, up until that time, the French word ingénue was invariably employed.

The 1920s were a turning point in the world of fashion. During the decade, fashion became an increasingly important symbol of a person's social status. Advances in technology made Americans' focus on fashion possible. For the first time in history, Americans could hear the same radio broadcasts and watch the same movies anywhere in the country.

The term "Flapper" is associated in the American public's mind with the decade of the Roaring 20s along with bootleg gin, Al Capone, Charles Lindbergh, and the Stock Market craze.