Life, 1909-05-13 · page 13 of 32
Life — May 13, 1909 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a political cartoon titled "The Crossways" depicting a scene in what appears to be a subway car. The accompanying article by Mrs. Harriet Stanton Blatch argues **for** separate subway cars designated for women, contrary to suffragist opposition to such segregation. The cartoon illustrates the crowded, uncomfortable conditions women faced in mixed subway cars, showing a woman squeezed uncomfortably among other passengers. Blatch's commentary contends that separate women-only cars would provide better conditions and protection for female riders, framing this as a practical safety and comfort issue rather than a segregationist one. This reflects early 20th-century debates about women's public mobility and the various approaches—sometimes contradictory—within feminist movements regarding women's protection versus equality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Woman's Car RS. HARRIET STANTON BLATCH, in behalf of the suf fragists, opposed separate subway cars for women, on the ground, among other THE CROSSWAYS there is no ideration and better reasons, tha reason why any special c should be given to women There are plenty of reasons, and good ones, why special consideration should he shown to women, but we agree with hat they are more likely to from one another. nen idea does not F one thing, too Mrs. Blatch get it from m The separate-car-for-w look quite any women travel in the subway for a matters much. comicbooks.com