The Wasp — 1895 — page 636: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration mocks the "New Woman" of the late 19th century—an emerging social figure who challenged traditional gender roles through education, sports participation, and independence. The cartoon depicts women dressed in masculine sporting attire (knickers, jackets, hats) at Del Monte, a fashionable California resort, participating in activities previously reserved for men: pigeon shooting and horse racing. The satire suggests anxiety about women's liberation. By imagining an exaggerated future (year 2000) where women dominate these "manly" pursuits, the cartoonist ridicules the idea of gender equality in sports and public life. The title's futuristic date emphasizes the cartoonist's skepticism that such changes were desirable or inevitable.