It is difficult to overstate the immense impact that the New Woman had on all aspects of American society. She continually appeared in magazines, brochures, and store windows; she was used as an advertising ploy by companies all across the country as they promoted their products as means of attaining the "Gibson Girl" look; she even appeared on everyday materialistic, consumer knick knacks as Bombette states in his article, "the Gibson Girl took over America during her heyday and her image appeared everywhere from print to items like ashtrays and pillow cases. But her grasp on society didn't end there...her tailored clothing and swan-bill corset stood in contrast with her bedroom tousled hair and young women embraced the look with fervor. They modeled the demeanor and antics of their heroine and most of all her fashion. Yet, despite her influence, the Gibson Girl's popularity owed itself to the times...she was a product of them and an emblem for them, which is why her reach could not extend to another generation." 14
This illustrated poster alone embodies much of the infatuation America grew to have with Gibson's Girl. Not only is she the centerpiece, the focal point of the entire image (an empowering notion for women in itself) but she is accompanied by only one male and he is in a small, bottom peripheral illustration. He is clearly beguiled by her, and in no way did the author intend to express any sense of male superiority. She is stunning; she is full of self-assurance; she is both physically and emotionally strong; she wears makeup and expresses her femininity, while she is also independent and not reliant on a dominant male figure. In many ways, the Gibson Girl established the foundations on which modern feminism would later base itself, embracing all that it means to be a woman while maintaining complete independence and moral rectitude.
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Important to note is the simultaneous role that simultaneous current cultural trends had on the wide acclaim and popularity of the New Woman. The exercise boom of the 1890s contributed to the acceptability of women being strong, capable, and proactive members of society. It also gave women a gateway into the world of sports, which had previously been dominated only by males. Women acknowledging and expanding on the vast capabilities of their bodies and muscles, created new images of feminine beauty and paved the way for a new genre of fashionable yet mobile attire. By the early 1900s, the Gibson Girl as an athlete had secured a dominance in advertisements, retail catalogues, and fashion magazines. The Gibson Girl abandoned the weak, flesh-and-bones look of the natural woman and instead adopted a stronger, curvier, and more able body. 16
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Important to note is the simultaneous role that simultaneous current cultural trends had on the wide acclaim and popularity of the New Woman. The exercise boom of the 1890s contributed to the acceptability of women being strong, capable, and proactive members of society. It also gave women a gateway into the world of sports, which had previously been dominated only by males. Women acknowledging and expanding on the vast capabilities of their bodies and muscles, created new images of feminine beauty and paved the way for a new genre of fashionable yet mobile attire. By the early 1900s, the Gibson Girl as an athlete had secured a dominance in advertisements, retail catalogues, and fashion magazines. The Gibson Girl abandoned the weak, flesh-and-bones look of the natural woman and instead adopted a stronger, curvier, and more able body. 16
14. Bombette, Le. "Will the Real Gibson Girl Please Stand Up?"
15. Library of Congress. "Topics in Chronicling America - The Gibson Girl."
(Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room. Last modified February 11, 2013.)
16. Leavitt, Judith Walzer. Women and Health in America: Historical Readings.
15. Library of Congress. "Topics in Chronicling America - The Gibson Girl."
(Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room. Last modified February 11, 2013.)
16. Leavitt, Judith Walzer. Women and Health in America: Historical Readings.
