Judge — September 18, 1926 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This satirical page from *Judge* magazine contrasts the modest "corset-parking girl of 1920" with modern (presumably 1920s-era) women. The central figure, labeled "Miss 1920s," wears minimal clothing and a halo, suggesting ironic innocence despite her scandalous appearance. Surrounding figures display increasingly free and uninhibited behavior—some partially undressed, one with a drink, others in active, unladylike poses. The satire mocks the rapid shift in women's fashion and social behavior during the Jazz Age. "Corset-parking" references the old practice of women removing restrictive corsets during dates—itself considered risqué. The cartoon suggests that 1920s women have become far more liberated and brazen than their predecessors, presenting this transformation as shocking to traditional sensibilities. This reflects genuine cultural anxiety about changing gender roles and morality during the 1920s.