Vintage Sexism: 1850s Cartoon Warns of Gender-Bending Power of Bloomers

In the mid-19th century, there was a feminist development for which I’m grateful pretty much every morning: bloomers arrived on the fashion scene. In the summer of 1851, American women dropped their corsets and petticoats as “boomer craze” swept the nation. 

Developed specifically to give women a more healthy style, bloomers obviously offered more freedom of movement as well — and they quickly became a symbol of the fight for women’s rights. As such, the trend attracted its critics. Editorials were written, public meetings were called, and cartoons depicted an outrageous world where bloomer-wearing women did all manner of manly things.

“Before I can entertain your proposal, and give my consent to your marrying my son, I must ask you, whether you are in a position – a – to – a – keep him in the style to which – a – I may say – he has always been accustomed? Ahem!” (Image credit: Punch)

In this one by John Leech for Punch magazine, a woman wearing bloomers asks her boyfriend’s father for permission to marry his son. In another, they even smoke and read newspapers!

h/t Pictorial