Judge — December 15, 1917 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Badge of Womanhood" This December 1917 *Judge* cover satirizes women's wartime nursing service during World War I. The image shows a woman wearing a Red Cross badge—the distinctive cross visible on her chest—draped in fur stole and fashionable attire. The title "The Badge of Womanhood" appears ironic or critical. The satire likely mocks women who wore Red Cross insignia as a fashion statement or social status symbol rather than engaging in genuine nursing work. By pairing the sacred medical badge with conspicuous luxury items (fur, jewelry, makeup), the cartoon suggests these women adopted wartime volunteer identity superficially—performing patriotism as a trend rather than making real sacrifice. This reflects contemporary debates about women's actual versus performative contributions to the war effort.