Judge — August 24, 1918 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is the cover of Judge magazine from August 24, 1918, during World War I. The illustration by David Robinson depicts a couple dancing, captioned "Doing Her Bit." The woman appears to be a young patriotic American, while the man in lighter clothing is likely meant to represent a soldier or serviceman. The satire targets women's wartime contributions to the war effort. "Doing her bit" was a contemporary phrase for civilian participation in WWI support—through bond drives, rationing, factory work, or morale-boosting activities. The cartoon suggests that some women interpreted their patriotic duty narrowly as socializing with servicemen, dancing being a popular wartime pastime. The humor likely critiques this as a superficial or self-interested form of patriotism compared to more substantive sacrifice.