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Suffragist Movement
Illustrating Opinions: Women’s Suffrage Propaganda
Illustrating Opinions: Women’s Suffrage Propaganda
From the first convention in 1848 to the 19th Amendment’s ratification, the struggle for women’s suffrage was contentious. Nothing reveals this more than the cartoons and propaganda surrounding Votes for Women.
From the first convention in 1848 to the 19th Amendment’s ratification, the struggle for women’s suffrage was contentious. Nothing reveals this more than the cartoons and propaganda surrounding Votes for Women.
Published March 3, 2020
Political cartooning and propaganda were nothing new in the early 20th century. But the suffrage movement, both for and against, took full advantage of this powerful form of communication to sway public opinion.
Political cartooning and propaganda were nothing new in the early 20th century. But the suffrage movement, both for and against, took full advantage of this powerful form of communication to sway publicopinion.
Beyond a difference in messaging, there were unique styles, themes, and coloring adopted by each side.
Beyond a difference in messaging, there were unique styles, themes, and coloring adopted by each side.
Much of the pro-suffrage imagery harkens back to classical images, such as “Columbia,” the goddess-like female personification of the United States and Liberty, in the era before Uncle Sam or the Statue of Liberty were created. But cartoonists like Nina Allender also linked votes for women with more modern images—specifically younger, emancipated women taking on new roles in public life.
Much of the pro-suffrage imagery harkens back to classical images, such as “Columbia,” the goddess-like female personification of the United States and Liberty, in the era before Uncle Sam or the Statue of Liberty were created. But cartoonists like Nina Allender also linked votes for women with more modern images—specifically younger, emancipated women taking on new roles in public life.
Propaganda against women’s suffrage focuses on the family in cartoonish parody, and women as either absent, vain and pretty, or old and haggard. Anti-suffrage propaganda was very successful, and its supporters might surprise you. Anti-suffragists were often upper-class women, and their outspoken statements that women did not need or want the vote were effective in stonewalling women’s suffrage for many years. Religious leaders, citing the Bible, were also vocal anti-Suffragists.
Propaganda against women’s suffrage focuses on the family in cartoonish parody, and women as either absent, vain and pretty, or old and haggard. Anti-suffrage propaganda was very successful, and its supporters might surprise you. Anti-suffragists were often upper-class women, and their outspoken statements that women did not need or want the vote were effective in stonewalling women’s suffrage for many years. Religious leaders, citing the Bible, were also vocal anti-Suffragists.
Propaganda for women's suffrage
Propaganda for women's suffrage
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Artist Nina Allender recreated the iconic image of "The Spirit of '76" with women bearing a Constitutional Amendment flag. Suffragist used patriotic and iconic imagery and quotes often and effectively to drive home their message.
Allender, Nina, "The Spirit of '76," illustration in The Suffragist, 30 Jan 1915, digital image, Wikimedia Commons. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allender_Spirit_of_76_1915.jpg: accessed 14 Feb 2020).
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In "Revised," the phrase "Woman's sphere is the home" is replaced with "Woman's sphere is wherever she makes good... the home, the law, industry, the school, the state, business, the arts." Her flowing cape alludes to Columbia.
Chamberlain, Kenneth R., illustration in Puck magazine, April 1917, p. 21, digital image, Ancestry.com.
(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&db=LOCphotos&h=453949: accessed 13 Feb 2020) -
Here, with "Votes for Women" flapping on her cape, Columbia raises her torch above the illuminated Western state that have legalized Women's suffrage. The other states show the profiles of women crying out in darkness and reaching toward her light.
Mayer, Henry, "The Awakening," illustration in Puck magazine, Feb 1915, p. 14-15, digital image, Library of Congress.
(http://loc.gov/pictures/item/98502844/: accessed 13 Feb 2020)
Propaganda against women's suffrage
Propaganda against women's suffrage
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In this postcard, the Madonna is apparently out voting, leaving the father to fill in.
Dunston-Weiler Lithograph Company, Suffragette Madonna, digital image, Wikimedia Commons.
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suffragette_madonna.jpg: accessed 13 Feb 2013) -
This postcard shows Mrs. Jones, who leaves a trail of chaos in her wake as she remembers while voting that she left a cake in the oven. Postcards like this one, invoked the perceived notion of women's domestic roles.
Votes for Women, digital image, Wikimedia Commons.
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anti-suffrage_postcard-_While_in_the_act_of_voting.jpg: accessed 13 Feb 2020) -
"Election-Day: What is a Suffragette without a suffering household?" This postcard shows a put-upon husband, being abandoned by his wife, who is impervious to her children's tears.
Dunston-Weiler Lithograph Company, Election-Day: What is a Suffragette without a suffering household? digital image, Wikimedian Commons
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:What_is_a_suffragette_without_a_suffering_household.jpg: accessed 13 Feb 2020)