Strange Cat Propaganda Used During the Women’s Suffrage Movement

How the furry feline and independent women became intertwined

Kyrie Gray
Fearless She Wrote

--

Image from 1914 (in Museum of London, altered by author)

Cats have long been associated with women. Single, shrill women who are unable to find a man. There is some historical context to this is stereotype. At the turn of the century society saw a specific kind of female as a loveless woman who was only able to find companionship with her cranky cat. This woman was the suffragette.

The suffrage and anti-suffrage cartoons during this time are numerous. Besides cat cartoons the anti-suffrage movement pushed out lots of content to make the public despise suffragettes. Why? Because white women were gaining rights that threatened the status quo. They could live alone, hold a job, wear bloomers, and actually consider the possibility of an independent life. One thing they couldn’t do? Vote.

Yet women voting seemed unseemly to some. They likened suffragettes to children throwing a fit. Giving a woman the right to vote made as much sense as giving a cat the right to cast a ballot. So, basically, it didn’t make sense at all.

Postcard from early 1900s

--

--