Life — June 4, 1925 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Final Examination" - Life Magazine, June 4, 1925 This is a "Commencement Number" cover depicting a young woman in graduation robes adjusting her mortarboard while surrounded by domestic objects: a mirror, chair, lamp, and skis. The title "The Final Examination" suggests ironic commentary on women's education and post-graduation prospects. The satire likely criticizes the gap between college education and women's actual life expectations in the 1920s. Despite earning degrees, female graduates faced pressure to prioritize domesticity (the furniture) and leisure (the skis, mirror) over careers. The "examination" appears to mock whether educated women will successfully transition to their "proper" roles as homemakers rather than professionals—a common anxiety of the era regarding women's changing social position.