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Thanks for meeting with me today, Samantha. Since you are a feminist, I was interested in discussing the novel, Herland, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman with you. As you know, we live in a modern society that is influenced by both our gender roles and the act of sex. In the 21st century, political and social progressivism has allowed men and women to possess an expanded view of themselves and how they conduct themselves, presenting a paradigm shift that starkly differs that of 1916, Herland’s publication date. For example, it has become common, although there still may be a slightly negative connotation, for women to hold occupations, such as engineering, once solely held by men. Similarly, men becoming nurses or even stay-at-home dads have also …show more content…
become increasingly relevant (Brabeck, 2015). Further, social progressivism in the United States has also allowed individuals to exhibit unhindered sexual and gender fluidity (Chira, 2017). I believe Gilman’s intention with her novel, Herland, was to promote a feminist enlightenment, akin to the social enlightenment of 21st century United States. However, since the women of Herland did not have sex with other women, do you believe Gilman’s theme of feminism and matriarchy was misguided, or even flawed, on the subtle assumption women can only have sex with men? Samantha: Thank you for such a great question, Patrick. You are correct; I am a feminist. As such, I am well versed in feminist literature, including Herland. Naturally, it is truly a delight to observe the current paradigm shift in the United States. To answer your question, I do not believe Gilman was misguided. Rather, I think she was attempting to shield herself from societal persecution. At the time Herland was published, Gilman’s views were not shared by society, particularly the law (Bullough, 1977). As we have seen, feminism cannot be achieved with a simple brush stroke. Laws need to be passed and stigmas need to be corrected; this takes a long time and many steps. Gilman most likely realized this and decided against publishing a book that would have been quickly disregarded as too radical. Rather, Gilman chose to take a small step and create a matriarchal society that was more accomplished in nearly every discipline than that of the patriarchal centered United States in 1916. Patrick: I agree that period must have been a very trying time, and small steps towards ending systemic oppression in 1916 were, most likely, a more effective appeal. Continuing the reoccurring theme of sex and reproduction, motherhood is very important in Herland, do you believe the women in Herland viewed motherhood as a societal endeavor or a personal endeavor? Samantha: In Herland, every woman perceives motherhood as the ultimate goal, and they long to have many children.
However, to answer your question, motherhood is both collective and personal. Somel represented this view when she stated, “I think the reason our children are so—so fully loved, by all of us, is that we never—any of us—have enough of our own.” (Gilman, 1916, p. 197). Herlandians believe that motherhood and the child are sacred, even holy (Gilman, 1916, p. 285). Despite the desire to rear and nurse more children, the success of their children takes precedence over motherhood. Recognizing this significance, and under the assumption, it is best for their children and society, Herland mandates specialists to raise their children after one year of nursing (Gilman p. 285). As a result of placing such a high importance on children, women in Herland believe motherhood is too important of a task to do alone- it must be done collectively, with unconditional and personal love for every child from every …show more content…
mother. Patrick: Interesting, I have never considered a society that is constructed with such an emphasis on motherhood and children. I admire the fortitude of women in Herland to separate their connection with their biological children in the best interest of their children and society. Since Herland is predicated on motherhood and childhood, do you believe Gilman further entrenched the long-held stereotype in American culture that women are only useful for reproduction and low-skill occupations? Samantha: Quite the contrary, Herland did not understate the abilities of women, it underscored them. As you previously mentioned, the 1916’s marginalized women legally and socially (Striking Women, n.d.) (Women’s Suffrage, n.d.). I believe Gilman utilized Herland as a medium to convey the capabilities of women. Within Herland, women possessed a wide range of capabilities and demonstrated great prowess in such, this directly contradicted the 1916-era public sentiment in the United States (Striking Women, n.d.). From the first chapter of Herland, it was apparent Terry, Van, and Jeff represented the misogyny entrenched in the United States, to varying degrees and practices. This misogyny was demonstrated best when Terry said, “[Women] would fight among themselves. We mustn't look to find any sort of order and organization [refereeing to Herland].” (Gilman, 1916, p. 23). However, once the three boys were welcomed into Herland, they witnessed Gilman’s vision of female engineering and organizational prowess such as “clean, well-built roads, to the attractive architecture, to the ordered beauty of the little town” (Gilman, 1916, p. 32). Despite such incredible accomplishments in Herland, which even surpassed the capabilities of the United States, Herlandians deemed this insignificant compared to the importance of motherhood. I believe Gilman juxtaposed the sacredness of motherhood and the afterthought of, male dominated, fields such as engineering in order to make an appeal to the reader on the important multifaceted role women play in society. Patrick: So you believe Gilman was attempting to highlight the importance women played in society, as well as their potential in male dominated fields in 1916. It is admirable Gilman advocated for feminist values during a time period when women were unable to go to the voting booths and only 24% of women worked outside of the household (Striking Women, n.d.) (Women’s Suffrage, n.d.). Based on this information, do you believe Herland could return to a bisexual state without sacrificing equality or harmony for either gender? Samantha: That is a great question, however, the answer is no.
Herland is a Utopia with no flaws. Those within Herland are pure in every sense of the word; the only impurity came from foreign men. In order to maintain Herland’s harmony and equality, their social order may not be disrupted. Men are instinctively motivated to have sex with many women and produce many children, whereas women of Herland are instinctively motivated to have a very limited number of children, without sex. Within Herland, men are unneeded due to Parthenogenesis; therefore there will be a power struggle between autonomous women and men seeking possession of women and children (Gilman, 1916, p. 128). This power struggle was evidenced when Terry stated, “There never was a woman yet that did not enjoy being MASTERED.” As he proceeded to sexually assault Alima (Gilman, 1916, p. 364). The women of Herland have no need for men and do not welcome their inherent aggressive behavior, as evidenced by the immediate condemnation of Terry’s behavior by Herlandians. Due to these very different ideologies, Herland would fail to maintain their status of a utopia under a bisexual state as well as maintain their peaceful existence.
Patrick:
Interesting, it appears you believe it is impossible for Herland to return to a bisexual state without sacrificing their well-being due to fundamental physiological differences. I also believe Terry’s behavior towards Alima accurately demonstrated this aggressive tendency of men. I will leave
you with one last question if roles were reversed and the women of Herland visited the United States, what would the public’s reception be?
Women throughout time have been compelled to cope with the remonstrances of motherhood along with society’s anticipations
Society continually places restrictive standards on the female gender not only fifty years ago, but in today’s society as well. While many women have overcome many unfair prejudices and oppressions in the last fifty or so years, late nineteenth and early twentieth century women were forced to deal with a less understanding culture. In its various formulations, patriarchy posits men's traits and/or intentions as the cause of women's oppression. This way of thinking diverts attention from theorizing the social relations that place women in a disadvantageous position in every sphere of life and channels it towards men as the cause of women's oppression (Gimenez). Different people had many ways of voicing their opinions concerning gender inequalities amound women, including expressing their voices and opinions through their literature. By writing stories such as Daisy Miller and The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Henry James let readers understand and develop their own ideas on such a serious topic that took a major toll in American History. In this essay, I am going to compare Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” to James’ “Daisy Miller” as portraits of American women in peril and also the men that had a great influence.
First, the 1900’s is a time where women are trying to put away the homemaker image and obtain work. This causes many hardships between husbands and wives. Jane is on the verge of beginning to leave her homemaker image and begin a career in writing. “I am sitting by the window now, up in the atrocious nursery, and there is nothing to hinder my writing much as I please, save lack of strength” (Gilman, 1599). Jane is starting to recognize that she is loosing her feminism. John recognizes this and tries to do everything he can to stop Jane. John knows that Jane is putting aside her role as being a wife, homemaker and mother. In these times, husbands’ do not believe that women could balance both home and work responsibilities. Jane decides to oppose the homemaker life and branch out into writing. The feminist role is “The concept of "The New Woman," for example, began to circulate in the 1890s-1910s as women are pushing for broader roles outside the home-roles that could draw on women's intelligence and non-domestic skills and talents” (http:/...
Throughout history, women have struggled with, and fought against oppression. They have been held back and weighed down by the sexist ideas of a male dominated society which has controlled cultural, economic and political ideas and structure. During the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s women became more vocal and rebuked sexism and the role that had been defined for them. Fighting with the powerful written word, women sought a voice, equality amongst men and an identity outside of their family. In many literary writings, especially by women, during the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s, we see symbols of oppression and the search for gender equality in society. Writing based on their own experiences, had it not been for the works of Susan Glaspell, Kate Chopin, and similar feminist authors of their time, we may not have seen a reform movement to improve gender roles in a culture in which women had been overshadowed by men.
In the analysis of the issue in question, I have considered Mary Wollstonecraft’s Text, Vindication of the Rights of Woman. As an equivocal for liberties for humanity, Wollstonecraft was a feminist who championed for women rights of her time. Having witnessed devastating results or men’s improvidence, Wollstonecraft embraced an independent life, educated herself, and ultimately earned a living as a writer, teacher, and governess. In her book, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” she created a scandal perhaps to her unconventional lifestyle. The book is a manifesto of women rights arguing passionately for educating women. Sensualist and tyrants appear right in their endeavor to hold women in darkness to serve as slaves and their plaything. Anyone with a keen interest in women rights movement will surely welcome her inexpensive edition, a landmark documen...
Women have been mistreated, enchained and dominated by men for most part of the human history. Until the second half of the twentieth century, there was great inequality between the social and economic conditions of men and women (Pearson Education). The battle for women's emancipation, however, had started in 1848 by the first women's rights convention, which was led by some remarkable and brave women (Pearson Education). One of the most notable feminists of that period was the writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She was also one of the most influential feminists who felt strongly about and spoke frequently on the nineteenth-century lives for women. Her short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" characterizes the condition of women of the nineteenth century through the main character’s life and actions in the text. It is considered to be one of the most influential pieces because of its realism and prime examples of treatment of women in that time. This essay analyzes issues the protagonist goes through while she is trying to break the element of barter from her marriage and love with her husband. This relationship status was very common between nineteenth-century women and their husbands.
Throughout the texts we have read in English thus far have been feminist issues. Such issues range from how the author published the book to direct, open statements concerning feminist matters. The different ways to present feminist issues is even directly spoken of in one of the essays we read and discussed. The less obvious of these feminist critiques is found buried within the texts, however, and must be read carefully to understand their full meaning- or to even see them.
Gender roles have been the one of the longest conflicts since the creation of man. Females have been struggling to gain way in the country since the foundation of the United States. For most of our country’s life up until the 1940’s women predominantly were supposed to stay at the house and do all the house work. For a fictional unnamed female child in the short story “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro, the life of the average woman is not the life she wants to live. She wants to work the hard labor with her father who sells fox pelts but, she is constantly getting “harassed” by her mother to do lady like work. The women’s struggle for rights can be divided up into centuries starting with the 19th and continuing to present day. At the end of the story the girl finally accepts her role as a female because she messes up and her father says, “She’s only a girl.” Men on the other hand, have had always had any opportunity they wanted but, generally their role is the
During the Nineteenth Century, the gender roles were greatly divided. Women were seen to have a completely differently status and nature from men. The stereotypical woman during this time-period was dependent, passive, domestic, and far weaker then a man. Men on the other hand, were far more dominant, dependent, controlling, ambitious and active. Men were the protectors and providers for the family. As if women weren’t already inferior enough to men, when they got married, essentially everything that was theirs was striped from them. What she once owned, was now her husbands, this included her savings, her land, her slaves, her freedom and especially her independence (Steele and Brislen). Women were expected to just do their household duties and be content with their lives and want nothing more. This lead wives to live in the shadows of their spouse. It is Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a feminist writer of the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century who illustrates the discord of the gender roles of this time-period. One of her most famed writings is “The Yellow Wallpaper.” In this short story, we read about a spouse who is totally dominated by her husband John, and we follow her while she is away rejuvenating herself from an illness. Feministic literature of this time, really focuses on the inferiority of women against men.
Society has long since considered women the lessor gender and one of the most highly debated topics in society through the years has been that of women’s equality. The debates began over the meaning between a man and woman’s morality and a woman’s rights and obligations in society. After the 19th Amendment was sanctioned around 1920, the ball started rolling on women’s suffrage. Modern times have brought about the union of these causes, but due to the differences between the genetic makeup and socio demographics, the battle over women’s equality issue still continues to exist. While men have always held the covenant role of the dominant sex, it was only since the end of the 19th century that the movement for women’s equality and the entitlement of women have become more prevalent. “The general consensus at the time was that men were more capable of dealing with the competitive work world they now found themselves thrust into. Women, it was assumed, were unable to handle the pressures outside of the home. They couldn’t vote, were discourages from working, and were excluded from politics. Their duty to society was raising moral children, passing on the values that were unjustly thrust upon them as society began to modernize” (America’s Job Exchange, 2013). Although there have been many improvements in the changes of women’s equality towards the lives of women’s freedom and rights in society, some liberals believe that women have a journey to go before they receive total equality. After WWII, women continued to progress in there crusade towards receiving equality in many areas such as pay and education, discrimination in employment, reproductive rights and later was followed by not only white women but women from other nationalities ...
The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities is truly what feminism is. A major key principle that Donald Hall utilizes in his Feminist Analysis is that “Language, institutions, and social power structures have reflected patriarchal interests throughout much of history” (202) and that “This has had a profound impact on women’s ability to express themselves and the quality of their daily lives” (202) are greatly seen in the two short stories “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and in the novel The Awakening also by Kate Chopin all written in mid-19th century. These all illustrate how women were oppressed by patriarchal power and how women rose and subverted patriarchal oppression which elucidates Hall’s theories that state women have been denied self-expression affecting their daily lives and patriarchs take power away from women.
Largely throughout the history of the United States of America, women have been intimately oppressed by their spouses in collusion with a patriarchal society. The Realist literary period saw no exception to this oppression of women. The Realist period, which lasted approximately from 1865-1910, involved many injustices on women, women’s rights, and equality. Males were supreme to females throughout this period, and women were denied many basic freedoms, including the right to vote. Women were regarded as frail, unequal, and inferior. However, the marginalization of women in this period did not go without protest. Women began to have an active voice on issues pertaining to their own rights as the end of the Realist period neared. Headways into women’s rights were made in this period around the turn of the century. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gillman chronicles the oppression and deteriorating sanity of Jane, who is being confined in a room by her physician and husband. This story is critical in telling of the oppression and subordination of women to their husbands throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin depicts a frail woman, who dies after a fright from her husband, who she believed was dead. The Awakening by Kate Chopin details the life of Edna Pontellier, who seeks individualism and life away from the control of men. Edna Pontellier assists in representing the audible and vociferous women’s rights movement that arose towards the end of the 19th century. American women in the Realist literary period encountered three elements that defined their societal status: oppression, inequality, and activism.
After reading, "Ibsen 's Motherless Women" written by Ellen Hartman. Hartman tries to make the understanding of how children who grow up without a mother are usually more challenged then those who don’t. They think and live more diverse rather than growing up with a maternal figure, she goes into details about how the characters in his stories are more likely to do what shouldn’t be done, just because the female protagonists grew up motherless. I agree with the observation they made of women because women had it difficult back then already, not imagining the experience of being motherless. For instance a mother guides a child and without that they have to grow up making decisions on their own. Life was more difficult for Nora because she
“Girls wear jeans and cut their hair short and wear shirts and boots because it is okay to be a boy; for a girl it is like promotion. But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading, according to you, because secretly you believe that being a girl is degrading” (McEwan 55-56). Throughout the history of literature women have been viewed as inferior to men, but as time has progressed the idealistic views of how women perceive themselves has changed. In earlier literature women took the role of being the “housewife” or the household caretaker for the family while the men provided for the family. Women were hardly mentioned in the workforce and always held a spot under their husband’s wing. Women were viewed as a calm and caring character in many stories, poems, and novels in the early time period of literature. During the early time period of literature, women who opposed the common role were often times put to shame or viewed as rebels. As literature progresses through the decades and centuries, very little, but noticeable change begins to appear in perspective to the common role of women. Women were more often seen as a main character in a story setting as the literary period advanced. Around the nineteenth century women were beginning to break away from the social norms of society. Society had created a subservient role for women, which did not allow women to stand up for what they believe in. As the role of women in literature evolves, so does their views on the workforce environment and their own independence. Throughout the history of the world, British, and American literature, women have evolved to become more independent, self-reliant, and have learned to emphasize their self-worth.
She is expected to live under the shadows of her husband commands and seize the stereotype of "the ideal housewife." A women’s identity is define by the idea of her gender and the internal forces that force her to fallow this notion. In many cases, the simple idea of pursuing a political career causes dismay in society. However, in order for a woman to achieve a level of equality that is just, there must be a change in the infrastructure of the women’s role, politically, and economically. In the article “Autonomy and the Struggle for Female Identity: Implications for Counseling Women,” McBride strongly declares, “Much of the feminist literature over the last 20 years has focused on the injustices done to women in our society, the need to validate women for their differences from men, and the need to move toward equality politically, economically, and socially ” (McBride 22). McBride concurs with the idea of providing women a place in society to encourage social acceptance in their work, and help them shape their own positive identity in their respective fields (22). This is not an issue that has risen in our society recently, but is an issue that we have taken for granted, and seen as a normal aspect of a women’s