In 1920 The Suffragist, the premier suffrage organ of the National Woman’s Party, published “Training the Animals.” The cartoon depicts a modern, young, beautiful woman training the Republican Party, represented by an elephant, and the Democratic Party, represented by a donkey. She holds in her hand a single treat, labeled “vote.” American women became nationally enfranchised with the ratification of the nineteenth amendment in 1920. This cartoon, which was published before the amendment was ratified, demonstrates several key components of how woman suffragists transformed their public representations in the twentieth century. Suffragists trained themselves to play with humor, beauty, and message to construct a vision of themselves that starkly contrasted with the public perceptions of nineteenth century suffragists.

            If one compares the complimentary nature of suffrage produced media of the twentieth century with the popular depictions of suffragists in the nineteenth century, it becomes clear that the suffragists consciously and dramatically altered the way they appeared to the masses. By taking advantage of new media that emerged or improved around the turn of the century, suffragists approached their campaign with a new, laser focus on public perception. They reoriented their campaign, one which in the nineteenth century had been dominated by a focus inward, with closed parlor meetings and small suffrage conventions, toward the general public. Instead of focusing on women who already supported the aims of the movement, suffragists attempted to engage the largest number of people in the most visible and spectacular ways. The campaign of twentieth century suffragists was one that embraced modern technology, reached broad audiences, and promoted preexisting gender roles.

1. The Revolution
2. A New NAWSA
3. The National Woman's Party
4. The Divisions