What Can You Do to Help Your Country?

Submitted by Logan Eddy on Wed, 02/13/2013 - 17:01

For this blog, I chose a Red Cross war relief ad in The Seven Arts, Volume 2, Issue 2, from 1917. The link to the image is http://dl.lib.brown.edu/repository2/repoman.php?verb=render&id=134919259093751&view=pageturner&pageno=136, and the Red Cross ad I chose can be found on page 136.

 

In this ad, the Red Cross asks readers “What Can You Do to Help Your Country?”

The answer to this question is presented inside the Red Cross icon – the cross itself. At the top of the cross are the words, “IF YOU ARE A MAN YOU CAN. . .” This information is presented boldly and in all capital letters. The importance of the man’s position is emphasized by the position of the text inside the cross. The man is then told he can either:

  • Join the Red Cross Ambulance Unit
  • OR
  • Join the Red Cross Sanitary Unit

Both of these options are He-man options. In a sense, the man who wants to help his country can make a huge difference by himself. He can contribute substantially to the war effort. In fact, he can be a superhero.

Below this information are the words, “IF YOU ARE A WOMAN.” The options for a woman are presented in cramped, small text. These options are:

  • take a training course in nursing
  • learn to make bandages
  • organize the men at the front

Not only does the text size and placement make it obvious that the women’s roles are far less “important,” the options they are given are in support of the men’s roles. They basically can serve as  “helpers” to the superhero men out there driving ambulances.

This particular ad would be shocking by today’s standards, but I am sure few people noticed the difference in 1917.

Comments

Micah Bolin

Wed, 02/13/2013 - 19:33

That is very interesting point. The image really does show the priority being men compared to women. It is interesting also because we normally think of the Red Cross as bringing women into the nursing profession. Good job.

Amy Bunselmeyer

Wed, 02/13/2013 - 19:44

I agree that it does seem to place much more importance on the roles of the men in the war than it does the women. I think this is interesting, considering how much propaganda we've seen directly solely for the women, in which they are portrayed as being just as necessary and important in the war effor as the men. I'm not quite sure of what to make of that. I do think it is still stressing that women are important though, when it says "If you are an American it is your duty to help." This suggests that man or women, you must help, it is your duty. You're right I think; however, in pointing out that this particular ad places much more importance on the men and the women take a lower position.