Upward Mobility

 

The “Roaring ‘20s” were a time of economic boom and cultural change.  Advertisements and popular culture sold Elmirans the idea that they could achieve the “American Dream” of upward mobility by purchasing consumer goods or by wearing the latest fashions. However, many working class Elmirans sought to improve their lives in more practical ways.  New educational opportunities, both in formal training schools and through informational magazines and pamphlets, allowed local men and women to get better jobs or start their own businesses.  While the glitz and glamour of the 1920s remained out of reach for many Elmirans, modest financial and social advancement was an achievable goal.