Teacher, from the Occupations for Women series (N166) for Old Judge and Dogs Head Cigarettes 1887

This small chromolithograph from around 1900, was made by Goodwin & Company as a cigarette card, as part of the Occupations for Women series. The image depicts a woman dressed in a somewhat masculine style with red stockings, leaning on a lectern and holding a pencil, representing the occupation of a teacher. The series reflects a changing social landscape in the United States, where women were gradually entering the workforce, including professions like teaching. Cigarette cards like these functioned within a burgeoning consumer culture. They also played a role in shaping and disseminating cultural ideals about gender roles. While the image acknowledges women's increasing presence in the workplace, it arguably does so in a way that is still palatable to a conservative, male-dominated society. A deeper understanding of this image requires us to consider its place within the broader history of advertising, gender studies, and the socio-economic conditions of the turn of the 20th century.