Description
Venereal disease prevention poster, presumably the third page of a book that has been torn out. A gentle black and white illustration depicts an idyllic family scene, in which the mother is preparing a cake, and the family members look on. The text reads: 'Remember the folks at Home - they are waiting for you to come back with an honorable record. Don't allow a whore to spoil the reunion.' The posters produced by the Social Hygiene Division were a breakthrough in preventive medicine - previous to the war, venereal diseases were rarely discussed, and there were limited medical resources in the United States for the treatment of those suffering from them. This poster was no. 3 in a series of venereal disease prevention posters. At the beginning of the twentieth century venereal disease was a prevalent concern for social health organizations. The social stigma attached to these diseases prevented most people from discussing or addressing means of treatment. In 1913, at a conference in New York, several organizations dedicated to fighting prostitution and venereal disease joined together to form the American Social Hygiene Association (ASHA). The association was established to stop the venereal disease epidemic by educating the public about sexually transmitted infections, working to break down the social stigma attached to VD, and encouraging high moral standards. ASHA's early worked focused on education and awareness efforts within the armed forces. ASHA worked with the US War Department during the First World War when VD occurrences surged among soldiers. Their efforts included educating soldiers about venereal diseases and their transmission and attempting to eliminate prostitution, which was believed to be the primary vehicle for VD transmission among the armed forces. Due to its contribution to the war effort, ASHA gained national attention and succeeded in creating public awareness of VD.
Details
Accession Number
ARTV07539
Publisher
Social Hygiene Division
Measurement
sheet: 26.8 x 20.4 cm
Medium
offset lithograph on paper
Credit Line
Acquired 1982
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain
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