Judge — November 17, 1917 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a pro-suffrage cartoon arguing for women's voting rights. It depicts uniformed soldiers and sailors alongside women in civilian dress, with a large American flag prominent above them. The caption poses a rhetorical question: given women's wartime sacrifices and support for the military, how can the nation deny them voting rights? The cartoon likely dates to World War I era (1917-1920), when women's suffrage became increasingly difficult to oppose. The imagery emphasizes women's patriotic contributions during wartime—working in factories, nursing, organizing relief efforts—as moral justification for enfranchisement. The juxtaposition of soldiers with women suggests they share equal stakes in the nation's welfare and deserve equal political voice. This represents a common suffragist argument: women's wartime service made denying them the vote unjust and illogical.