Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Women And Economics

Analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Women and Economics

Although women’s suffrage and other rights was a long and hard battle, suffragists like Charlotte Perkins Gilman continually fought in order to promote the independence and liberty that women deserved to have. Nevertheless, Gilman continued to advocate the freedom that women deserved and yearned to have through different lifestyle changes she believed would lead to independence. She continued to advocate the liberties a woman should have in her book by promoting economic independence, examining the new society in which women desire freedom, and lastly, exploring the idea that women are limited by marriage and childbirth.

Gilman’s first and foremost argument in the excerpt provided of her book, Women and Economics, explains the necessity for an economic independency. When Gilman states, “Women work harder and longer than most men…” she explains that these women are more than capable of doing the work that men say that they aren’t cut out to do. First and foremost, this statement is

and was an issue during the time. Not only did it show the economic dependency of women upon men, it also showed the social standing in which they had which prevented women from being anything but a housewife and mother. “Fathers give their daughters, and husbands their wives… a(n)... allowance… all their own…” also demonstrates the societal structure in which men provide for the females of their families. This leaves no opportunity for women, because without economic power and independency, there is no freedom for them.
Gilman supported her stance in supporting the independence of women by providing the observation in which women now desired this freedom.

Gilman says, “... spirit of personal independence in women today is sure proof that change has come… economic position of women is advancing… growing… of democratic life brings… change to our daughters as well as our sons…” which was able to evaluate the desire as well as the changes that can be brought upon society through economic and social stability which would bring freedom. She explores the future that can be brought for both men and women of the future, not only in an economic sense but by explaining that women can bring a change to the political world as well. By being independent, it opens doors of all sorts to be more active and involved in any and every activity that a man can take place in. This validation opened the eyes of those who didn’t believe women had to be

independent.
Lastly, Gilman perused the idea of marriage and motherhood bounding women from their freedom. When she states that “It is house service, not child service” , she talks about the fact that women are so generalized into being housewives, that they aren’t allowed any other “profession”. The ideal that motherhood bounds a woman is false in her writing - a woman can indeed have a family but be subject to her own self. She later explores that women can provide service in both domestic and social servings.
Gilman’s vindication of women and their freedom opened the eyes of many, and through that, the future really has been changed. Her consideration of women’s roles in the world have changed women from being domestic servants in the home and only that, to being successful individuals of society who have claimed their independence through their desire and achievement of social and economic standings. These women don’t subject themselves only to the household, yet are still able to balance the lives that they want to hold between motherhood and being her own woman. Gilman’s effect on the generations after her are apparent through history.