Life — November 18, 1920 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This November 1920 *Life* cover by Coll Phillips depicts a woman in Western/cowgirl attire in a relaxed, flirtatious pose. The title "A Mere Slip of a Girl" appears ironic given her confident demeanor and masculine-coded outfit. The image likely references post-WWI social changes—particularly women's expanding freedoms and the recent (August 1920) passage of the 19th Amendment granting women's suffrage. The "cowgirl" styling suggests new independence and rejection of traditional femininity. The stars in the circular background evoke American patriotism. The satire appears to mock contemporary anxieties about "modern women" abandoning conventional roles, presenting her casual, bold presentation as a humorous commentary on shifting gender norms during the 1920s.