This thesis explores the lives of Parisian women of the Belle Époque (1890-1914) through World War One. The Belle Époque was an era of transition, moving from a tumultuous nineteenth century fraught with revolution and industrialization to a twentieth century marked by war, social strife, cultural upheaval and a redefining of class and gender categories. This work will provide an intimate view of French society through social and gender history. By using images found in magazines, newspapers, and posters, this essay will address the marked differences between the bourgeoisie and working classes. Understanding the structure and background of these two classes will illuminate the similar problems all women faced as social standards became more influential. By examining French consumerism, the differences between the "Real Woman" and the "New Woman" readily emerge. The thesis concludes by examining the varying roles of women and how they were represented during the Great War.
