Bernice Bobs Her Hair

2pg Lit. Response “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”


“Bernice Bobs Her Hair” expressed two ideas of women in the past. One was the idea from the cult of true womanhood and the other was the flapper attitude of the “roaring twenties”. The story was in my mind women turning away from the old views of domesticity and more towards a free view of themselves. This is expressed by Bernice and Marjorie. Bernice is the old views of women and how femininity is portrayed and Marjorie is more of the new free spirit brought on by the “roaring twenties” who sneaks off with boys and throws caution to the wind (lol). I also found that with these two different views the fact of how girls treat each other is very realistic to the girls of today.

Bernice was a nice girl; quiet and conservative, however, in the 1920s it wasn’t about being feminine and guys felt that girls that kept old views were boring and couldn’t stand her. Marjorie was a “flapper” girl; she flirted with many boys even though there was one that continued to love her. Boys loved Marjorie no matter how much she played with any of them. This made me feel that the “flapper” attitude was accepted over the old views of the cult of true womanhood. I don’t believe that a girl should have to flirt with so many boys just to be accepted. Bernice changed herself so she could fit in but that would never work because even if she changed the conversations she had that was not the person she was. In the end she got her hair bobbed and it was unbecoming because it wasn’t for her personality. But this story was also a battle of old views with the new and in the end the new views won, except the fact the Marjorie now also has a bob to complete her “flapper” personality.

This story also showed the workings of the female mind. At first Marjorie didn’t like Bernice because she was boring and none of her friends or the boys liked her. Then she helps her out of selfish reasons to help herself, and then becomes angry and jealous when the boy that has loved her for so long starts falling in love with Bernice. Today girls are just like this. They will befriend someone for selfish reasons or become jealous over a boy they never had. It is a sad fact that these tings have been going on for so long and we as females have yet to change our ways. People don’t accomplish anything when it is done in selfishness or jealousy and that is why Marjorie now has a bob.