Life — June 6, 1918 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a young girl sitting on a bench, knitting what appears to be a large ball of yarn or finished knitted item. Behind her, two boys peer over a wall, apparently playing or observing. A tree stands in the background. The caption "Woman's Work Is Never Done" uses gentle satire about gendered labor expectations. Published during World War I (1918), this likely references women's domestic and wartime contributions—knitting was a significant civilian war effort, with women producing socks, scarves, and other items for soldiers. The cartoon suggests that while others (the boys) enjoy leisure activities, women and girls face endless productive labor, even during recreational moments. It's commentary on how women's work, whether domestic or patriotic, was considered perpetual and unfinished.