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 (1860-1935) Famous American family Aunt Harriet Beecher Stowe: Wrote 30 books (Uncle Tom’s Cabin) Aunt Isabella: Women's suffrage Henry Ward Beecher: Abolitionist Catharine Beecher: Founded schools for young women & 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 Gillman disagreed with Addams’ focus on underprivileged & pathology Gillman’s focus was on all people

Other Influences: George Bernard Shaw British Fabian Socialist Upper middle-class intellectual group Social improvement through: Educating a few powerful British government officials Did not support revolution Lead reforms from within government Work within social structure rather than build 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 Social reforms: 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 Social Darwinism combined: Reform Darwinism emphasized: Survival of the fittest with support for status quo, individualism, & capitalism Reform Darwinism emphasized: Evolution of cooperation and caring Cooperation is good for all society & produces progress Progress includes gender cooperation

Cultural Feminism Five stage theory of society evolution Historically women 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

Gilman’s Ideas Socialism: Gillman agreed with Marx-work is basic Women need economic independence Critic of capitalism Professionals should parent rather than amateurs (i.e. parents) Food produced in cooperative kitchens Focus always on collective & cooperative activity

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

Gilman’s Ideas Wanted world where men & women could experience fulfillment Believed it was possible to make society good Believed society cooperative, evolutionary, & could be reformed Supported women’s right to vote Writings promoted change