1898: The Political Woman

July 28, 2024

By AHNZ

First Wave Feminism spiked for New Zealand in the 1890s then died down again as observed in this 1898 cartoon by Ashley Hunter.

The text is a little hard to read in the original so I’ve typed it out below that the cartoon may live again.

Hunter was correct that this Feminism 1.0 was a flash in the pan. They were described variously as “The New Woman,” “The Political Woman,” “Shriekers,” and “Epicene Women.” Rightly so. They thought themselves messianic like Jesus come back as a chick! Ref. 1907: Standing in the Sunshine, AHNZ

During the 1890s a generation of women asserted itself in the name of Social Justice. They pushed temperance, dress reform, war, eugenics, and more rights for women. Ref. 1896: Scientific Temperance Instruction, AHNZ

Various women’s groups met up for a The National Council of Women in 1896 but really couldn’t get along and another such wasn’t even called for 12 more years. In 1903, conferring with one another, they found it “distinctly benumbing” how the women’s movement had crumpled up like wet cardboard. Some tried to prolong their Feminist Sunset by chasing it back to Britain as did Anna Stout and Frances Parker where they found themselves caught up in a movement that had become toxic, murderous, and terrorist in nature.

Here in New Zealand it died a quiet death but is looked back upon by revisionist historians (with government funding) only as benevolent. Stacks of books and media keep piling up about “forgotten” women in our history, fed by the dubious claim that there aren’t enough already. But good luck finding books specifically about men! The history of women is biased because various waves of Women Protection Movements keep rising up and demanding grant money to create content putting themselves and their predecessors up on a pedestal.

For example, the elevation of the third woman’s suffrage petition (presented 28 July,1893) to the status of a sacred object. In this image (right) it takes 6 women to ceremonially move it. The object itself has its own custom display case and mechanical rig so it can be turned 4 times per year by the women conservator Sarah Drake “to protect the document from exposure to light.” A man would just turn the light off at the switch! Ref. Stuff (2019)

There is no fuss or grants or movements formed to counter this political view or to simply tell our history straight. Indeed, to suggest there were a debate to be had or to offer a counter-view would lead to deplatforming and cancellation of anyone who dared to speak.

Hunter’s cartoon belongs to the heretical canon that interprets an outburst of these sorts of women as annoying, boring, and temporary.

I’m a maiden with a mission. I’m a woman with a will
I’ve a tongue of brassy sweetness that is very seldom still!

I’ve a self-inflicted mission to regenerate mankind
And I’m going to make things lively for I’ve quite made up my mind

To elevate the sex I represent
They’ll let me have a seat in parliament
Yes! I’m bent
On lifting up my voice in parliament

I’m a cure for every evil. I’ve a ban for every sin
It’s a socialistic angel. I serenely amble in

Of philanthropy I am the fountainhead
Where even fools may hesitate to tread
I’ve no dread
Of rushing in where others fear to tread

Through my logic may be faulty and my eloquence be gush
I intend to go on shrieking till an overwhelming rush

Of suff’ring men shall put me down again
Yet the object of my chatter’s pretty plain
Oh! What pain
When they put me in my proper place again