Judge — September 1, 1917 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes early-20th-century gender norms around summer clothing. The caption argues men should wear the same light, breathable fabrics (organdie and chiffon) that women wear in hot weather, rather than being confined to heavy wool suits. The cartoon shows men in traditional formal attire (suits, hats) appearing uncomfortable, while women wear flowing, airy dresses. The satire mocks the impracticality and arbitrariness of gendered dress codes—why should comfort be denied to men based merely on convention? This reflects a broader period of fashion and social change, likely from the 1910s-1920s when gender roles faced increasing scrutiny. The cartoon's humorous approach to this "radical" idea (men wearing light fabrics) reveals how strictly enforced these social conventions actually were. It's essentially arguing: comfort shouldn't be gendered.