Life — March 7, 1912 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes the boss-secretary workplace dynamic. An elderly, well-dressed businessman stands over a seated female secretary, appearing to dictate while holding what looks like a stethoscope or pointer near her head. The exaggerated caricatures—his prominent nose and her plain features—suggest this is mocking pretentious workplace behavior. The satire likely targets either: (1) overbearing male authority in the office, or (2) the absurdity of overly formal "dictation" procedures. The stethoscope-like implement is unclear—it may reference medical examination or simply emphasize his intrusive manner. The cartoon reflects early-to-mid 20th century attitudes about gender roles in workplaces, where male bosses held complete authority over female clerical staff. The humor derives from exaggerating this power imbalance.