Life, 1912-05-30 · page 25 of 44
Life — May 30, 1912 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1921 *Life* magazine page argues for women's admission to journalism schools, specifically Columbia University's program. The accompanying cartoon satirizes society's skepticism about women journalists by depicting an "enthusiastic reception" for "Dick's fiancée"—showing a woman as a social curiosity rather than a serious professional. The article makes a progressive case: women are better observers (noting their attention to fashion and detail), face fewer barriers in interviews, and possess equal courage and "nerve" as men. Yet the cartoon's ironic title undercuts this argument, suggesting society views women primarily as romantic interests, not journalists. The piece references Joseph Pulitzer's journalism school initiative. The satire targets both social prejudice against female reporters and the magazine's own somewhat patronizing tone—praising women's "beauty" as an interviewing advantage reveals the era's conflation of women's professional capability with their appearance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Women Journalists E are informed that the school of journalism con- nected with Columbia University will take women | students and fit them to be journalists. Up to the present time women reporters have had their limits. They have not been able to do the same work that men can do; but we see no reason why this should be so. | Women are closer observers than men: for example, ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION OF DICK’S FIANCEE in clothing textures and diamonds, and in microscopic work. A truly beautiful woman would not be so likely to be repulsed in obtaining an interview as a man. Women have fully as much courage and the thing called “nerve” as men have, Why, then, should they not make as good reporters? Mr. Pulitzer’s school of journalism proposes to find out, and we shall await the outcome with considerable anxiety. comicbooks.com