Judge — October 25, 1919 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Plunge" - Woman Suffrage Number This is the cover of Judge magazine's Woman Suffrage special issue from October 25, 1919. The illustration shows a woman diving headfirst into water labeled "POLITICS," while "SUFFRAGE" appears on the wave's surface. The satire plays on the double meaning of "plunge"—both a diving motion and taking a risky action. The cartoon depicts women's entry into political participation through voting as a dramatic, potentially perilous dive into unfamiliar territory. The composition suggests uncertainty about whether this "plunge" will be successful or catastrophic. This was published shortly before the 19th Amendment's ratification (August 1920), when women's political participation remained controversial and satirical magazines frequently mocked the suffrage movement by portraying women's political involvement as dangerous or foolish.