The Wasp — 1895 — page 346: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* (a California satirical magazine) depicts "The Power of Imagination." The illustration shows a woman reclining on a ship's deck, daydreaming. The caption indicates she imagines herself as seasick when near a man she dislikes, but feels fine when with someone she prefers—suggesting her nausea is psychological rather than physical. The joke satirizes female hypochondria and suggests women exaggerate or fabricate illness based on romantic preference rather than actual medical conditions. This reflects early-20th-century gender stereotypes portraying women as emotionally manipulative and prone to nervous ailments. The maritime setting and striped pajamas/loungewear add to the leisurely, domestic humor typical of *The Wasp's* satirical content.