Life — December 27, 1917 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Life magazine cartoon satirizes early 20th-century feminist ambitions through a fantasy scenario. The page imagines a world without men, depicting women occupying all social roles—rich woman, beggar, thief, doctor, lawyer, merchant—suggesting women could perform any function men did. The satire operates on multiple levels: "The Masculine Virtues" section mocks stereotypical male behavior (drinking, fighting, swearing). Other panels show women in traditionally male professions ("Lawyerette," "Doctoress"). The final images—a woman confidently stating "No More Little Boys, Either" and a questioning "?"—suggest the cartoon's punch: radical feminists allegedly wanted complete male elimination, even reproduction without men. This reflects contemporary anxieties about women's suffrage and workplace equality, portraying feminist goals as absurdly extreme rather than legitimate. The tone mocks both women's ambitions and male fears of female independence.