What was Emily Post's impact on American society?

Answer 1

The 1920s were a time in American life when many changes were occurring (women getting the vote and entering the political sphere; the arrival of radio and talking pictures; the controversial dance crazes and fashions of the "Roaring Twenties," etc); some people feared that good manners and proper behavior were going out of style. But when Emily Post published her book on Etiquette, she demonstrated to readers that manners were still important. In more than 600 pages, she offered guidance on what to do in just about any situation, providing the public with stable rules they could rely on.

Not everyone agreed with or obeyed everything she said (her views on gender roles were very old-fashioned, for example), but her advice seemed to resonate with the public, and people took much of her advice to heart. As time passed, her book was up-dated several times, and it served as a frequently-quoted reference work. Emily Post also became well-known through her newspaper columns and guest appearances on radio, and the public found her a credible resource when questions of etiquette came up.