The Wasp — 1892 — page 111: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page depicts women displaying contradictory behavior across different social settings. The central image shows a woman in her drawing room, while surrounding vignettes show her in various poses and attire—from formal evening wear to athletic/casual clothing. The satire targets the perceived hypocrisy of women's public versus private conduct, a common theme in late 19th/early 20th-century social commentary. The title "Feminine Inconsistency" suggests the cartoonist is mocking women for adopting different personas depending on social context: demure at home, bold in public spaces like Santa Cruz. This reflects period anxieties about changing women's roles and the "New Woman" challenging Victorian propriety through expanded social freedoms.