The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-06-23
New Type OF
Girl Defended
Miss Dorothy Whitney
Wins Second Prize in
Barnum Essay Con-
test.
In Defense of the Modern Grip
BY Miss Dornt hN NXhitnev


since the Great War, a new type
OF girl has pervaded the World. She
Is distinct, unique and different from
any previous generation of girls. She
is exactly what freedom and c1rcum-
stances have made her and she is
splendid
The most outstanding characters
tics of the modern girl are individ-
uality, responsibility, and ability to
apply herself to whatever task is
presented. These were the traits
which began to crop out in II and
caused her to cross the sea for her
country These were the trait that
made her give up her expecta ton. OF a
college career and go into the fac
tory to work so that big brother could
fight for his country. These were
the characteristics which made her
do the big and noble deeds at that
time for which she was praised here,
on the other side, and all over the
world.
1t is still these traits which most
predominately mark the modern girl,
traits for which at one time, one group
of girls was highly praised
Now although that great struggle
is over, although there is no stirring
war work to which she can give her
self, still the same individuality which
began to crop out in 1T is cropping
out more and more. To try to stop 1t
is a. crime. 1t is the life and soul of
a girl!
Our city, our country, the whole
universe is people with various types
of humanity No two are built alike
Those fine traits of freedom, RESPONSE
bility and individuality can not afect
people alike. The urge for self ex-
preston which causes one to do some
great thing, makes another fiippant
and produces the type of girl known
as the fapper.
We cannot get away from this type
of girl, a production of the twentieth
century, the World War and the right
to vote, whom SO many persist in
calling the Modern Girr' ignoring
the fact that she is only one type of
the modern girl. We cannot get away
from her because she is a reality. She
is here--she exists--she lives in Bridge
port. But why condemn her
heartily? What if she does smoke,
roll her stockings, and let her ga1oshes
jingle? Those are mere SUPERFICIAL
ties. OF course they do represent and
are a certain outward show and means
by which she is trying to attract at
is a distinct movement toward self
determination-towa morality by
conscience, not by law. This tendency
toward self responsibility is distinctly
discernable under these superficial
ties.
From this growing independence of
the younger set, from this morality by
conscience, an ultimate good must
come. Now self responsibility is be-
ing substituted for conventionality.
Otherwise the girl of today is little
different from the girl of a decade or
more ago.
Surely, it is better for a girl not to
do certain things because she knows
them to be wrong. than not to do
them because her next door neighbor
doesn't 1t must be better to do
thing because you know it is right
rather than because your best friend
does it. Everything is to be gained
by this morality by conscience. Con-
Ventionalities which We're at one time
,f
will be laid aside. The conscience
which every one possesses, no matter
how hard or cruel, how bold and bad,
or how free and easy, will be the
main guide.
At all times. taking any decade that
you wish, girls have been criticized
for their mode of dress and conduct
The slashing editorials that are writ