The New Woman: This front cover of The Dawn is the largest step, the culmination of previous efforts of many New Women. This journal, the first issue of what I can only hope and pray to be many, puts women in a position leaps and bounds from where we previously were. I consider the quote and cartoon in my commonplace book to be more abstract. A bit of thinking and reading between the lines is required to grasp the purpose behind those two items. This journal, however, is a roaring statement. There is no underlying meaning. In this journal, and many like it, women can, and will, bluntly state our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I was able to acquire this journal through a women’s group I am a part of. Despite Australia being on the other side of the world, it is still dependent to England. Therefore, access to some of its resources is not as impossible as one might think. I admire and support this journal first for its representation of women. As stated on the cover page, men debate on divorce, hours of labor, and many other questions that intimately effect women, but leave women completely out of the equation. Let me raise this question. Why should women not have every right that a man has when it comes to a subject that directly effects the women and her wellbeing? It is basic humanities. That is why this journal means so much to me. Women have had no voice for thousands of years…until now. Countless more journals, just like this one, will sprout and give women a voice. Women will be able to share with the public their thoughts, their emotions, their desires, their innermost needs. Women will be able to share their talents, to self-promote through this platform. This journal, and many more like it, are the turning point in giving women a voice.
Editorial Commentary: The Dawn is a journal for Australian women, with the cover of its first ever issue pictured above. This journal has both a strong literal and figurative meaning. In the literal sense, this journal’s content reasons on the side of females around the world. This journal gives women a place where “her divergent hopes, aims, and opinions may have representation.” Women are human; they have just as many brilliant ideas as men do, only men at this time had a much broader, easily accessible platform upon which to speak. Whether they wanted to air grievances against the treatment of their own gender or simply share thoughts and feelings, they now had a place to do it. However, what this journal stands for truly makes it a masterclass. At this time, women had no power even within their own families. The husbands made all decisions, leaving the women voiceless to express any desires or needs. Not only did this journal give women a voice, but it gave them a voice that would be heard even outside of their family. The Victorian Era was a time when women in Britain were beginning to fight for change. The New Woman and her ideals were becoming more popular. Women were dressing for comfort, much like mentioned earlier with the bicycle suit. They were questioning why the world was male-centric. With the start-up of women’s journals such as these, women could now share their message and spread the movement. Women’s journals were a backbone of the New Woman movement.
The Dawn. Edited by Dora Falconer, vol. 1, no. 1, Sydney, 15 May 1888.