The Wasp — 1891 — page 495: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising and literary content** rather than political satire. The central feature is a poem titled "WE, AS WOMEN" by Charlotte Perkins Stetson, a prominent late-19th-century feminist writer and social theorist. The cartoon illustration shows a woman in Victorian dress appearing to burst energetically from a spherical constraint—likely representing the breaking of societal restrictions on women. The poem's text emphasizes women's desire to participate in public life ("elevate public opinion," "lift up erring man") and contribute to society beyond traditional domestic roles. The surrounding advertisements for liquor, pianos, and business services represent typical period marketing. The page reflects early feminist discourse during Stetson's era of advocacy for women's expanded social and economic participation.