Charlotte Perkins Gilman The glory of our race is its power of communication. We share our strength and knowledge and rise as one; we share our failure and weakness and help each other bear it.“ Charlotte Perkins Gilman, "Our Place Today," 1891

Charlotte Perkins Gilman ( )  Famous American family  Aunt Harriet Beecher Stowe—wrote 30 books (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)  Aunt Isabella was active in the women's suffrage movement  Henry Ward Beecher active in abolitionist movement  Catharine Beecher ( ) founded many schools for young women & was a prolific author

Marriage and Motherhood  Born in 1860  Committed suicide in 1935 when cancer prevented her from working  Father abandoned her & her mother Financial strain on them  Educated herself  Married Charles Walter Stetson, a painter  They had a daughter

Marriage and Motherhood  Post-partum depression Stay at home cure  Wrote The Yellow Wallpaper  Friendly divorce in 1894 Daughter lived with father  Married G. Houghton Gilman in 1900

Other Relationships & Influences  Jane Addams: Both supported democracy & education for social improvement Both rejected conflict & revolution for equality Gillman disagreed with Addams’ focus on underprivileged & pathology Gillman’s focus was all people in society.

Other Influences  George Bernard Shaw British Fabian Socialist ○ An upper middle-class intellectual group Sought social improvement through: ○ Education of a few powerful British government officials ○ Not revolution ○ Lead reforms from within government ○ Work within the social structure rather than building a new one

Sidney & Beatrice Webb  Influenced by Webbs’ writings on the economy  Their views on non-revolutionary change  They were also Fabian Socialists

Gilman’s Ideas  Democracy & education for social reform Supported cooperative socialism Emphasized education for all Social reforms: ○ Child-rearing professionals ○ Meal preparation professionals

Gilman’s Ideas  Views on Gender: Three Themes 1) Excellence of women’s values & abilities 2) Belief in biological & evolutionary origin of women’s superior attributes 3) Socialist’s vision of political & social equality between men & women

Gilman’s Views on Gender Men & women born equal ○ Difference is socially created Overemphasize women as: ○ Maternal ○ Sex objects

Gilman’s Views on Gender  Society does not benefit from women’s other talents & qualities such as:  Cooperation  Peacefulness

Gilman’s Ideas  Reform Darwinism Social Darwinism combined: ○ Survival of the fittest with support for status quo, individualism, & capitalism Reform Darwinism emphasized the evolution of cooperation and caring Cooperation is good for all society & produces progress Progress includes gender cooperation

Gilman’s Ideas  Cultural Feminism  Historically women were equal or superior to men. Five stage theory of society evolution 1. Asexuality to sexuality (appearance of males) 2. Males become superior in size & strength 3. Society changes from matriarchy to patriarchy 4. Monogamous mating 5. Eventually, women become free economically & socially

11/24 Gilman’s Ideas  Socialism: Gillman agreed with Marx that work was basic Women needed to be economically independent A critic of capitalism than proponent of socialism Professionals should do parenting rather than amateurs Food should be mass-produced in cooperative kitchens Focus always on collective & cooperative activity.

Gilman’s Ideas  Functionalism Society is made of individual parts Interrelated Have specialized functions Society is based on cooperation

Gilman’s Ideas  Summary: Gillman wanted a world in which men & women could experience fulfillment Believed it was possible to make society good Believed that society was cooperative, evolutionary, & could be reformed Supported women’s right to vote Writings encouraged people to change their behavior