Bicycle Face Fake News 1890s Style Case 5

This episode explores one of the original fake new items of the late 19th Century, a made-up disease that affected women (and some men) called “Bicycle Face”.

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Reflection Questions

1. What comparable fake news do we still have in our society? Can you think of any examples of made up health issues?
2. Consider that women could not vote in many parts of the world. Explain why women riding bicycles could be a threat to a patriarchal society.
3. Visit the Trove website and research an aspect related to this episode; bloomers, bicycle face, Mrs Grundy, fashion, enfranchisement. (Be sure to select t he decade 1890-1899.) Find 3 quotes that demonstrate the attitudes and values toward women at this time.
4. Find the cartoon in the Library of Congress, “The bicycle - the great dress reformer of the nineteenth century.” How reliable and useful is this source in depicting fashion from this era?
5. Find the cartoon in the Library of Congress, “The bicycle - the great dress reformer of the nineteenth century.” What is the perspective of the artist who drew the cartoon?
6. What is the implicit meaning behind the statement, “the bicycle hand is a thing of ugliness and a horror for ever"?

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All original music written and performed by Kelly Chase.

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The History Detective Season 1 & 2 Album is now available on Spotify and all of your music streaming services.

Contact: Twitter @HistoryDetect, Instagram @HistoryDetective9, email [email protected]

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All music written and performed by Kelly Chase.