We've come a long way... maybe

Buzzfeed recently circulated a number of early 20th Century propaganda. Today, we'd call it social marketing. But in this case, the focus was not on social progress, but rather on preventing one of the most important human rights advances ever: the enfranchisement of women.

It is interesting to see how these messages played on the fears of men of the era. Education and specialized skills (such as typing, believe it or not!) gave women access to more economic and social freedom than ever before in the modern age. Feminism was on the rise. And it scared the old guard pantsless:

They thought they'd be emasculated by women who could actually operate in the real world.

 

And won't someone PLEASE think of the children?

This was obviously the work of bitter old spinsters.

 

Who were out to corrupt our wives and daughters.

Wow. Fearmongering, hateful stereotyping and demonizing all those who oppose you. I'm sure glad those horrible days of social advertising are over. Right?

See more anti-suffragette ads here.