"The Force of Habit"

Caption: Miss Diana (a novice). "Oh, Jack, I'm certain this Thing is going to shy at those horrid Pigs! Do you mind leading it past?"

 

This Punch cartoon pictures the trend of New Women using bicycles as a means of becoming more autonomous. Furthermore, it adopts a mocking tone toward the New Woman for her ignorance of the function of bicycles while also allowing her to insult the man. If the woman's bicycle strays toward pigs, then the man's ability to lead it past would suggest he is also a pig, connecting to representations of the New Woman as superior to men. 

 

Jalland, G.H. “The Force of Habit.” Cartoon. Punch Magazine. 3 August 1895. p. 59.

Associated Place(s)

Event date:

3 Aug 1895