Herland: A Non-Feminist Analysis

The early twentieth century, a time of debates over women’s rights, paved the way for two conflicting definitions of feminism. There was one definition, referred to as humanist or identity feminism. It asserts that women are essentially human, and therefore deserve the same liberties as men in all scenarios, because they are fundamentally more the same than different, to their male counterparts. In contrast, there is the other definition, named difference or complementarity feminism. It says women and men are different but equal, because they posses distinct qualities that complete each other, when a union is formed. The utopian novel, Herland, by feminist Charlotte Gilman, pulls from both

Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar's analysis of feminist literature provides valuable insights into Gilman's critique of gender roles, emphasizing the protagonist's struggle against the pervasive societal norms that restrict her agency.

Her father left the family after she was born, her mother restricted Gilman from reading fiction. But there was a light at the end of a tunnel, her family had a financial problems had to move in with her relations. With the help of her aunts, Gilman started to become more independent. Being a women of the 19th century, women injustice

The diction Gilman employs relates directly to the lasting role of women in the home to expose the historical adversities endured within the domestic sphere. The intricacy with which Gilman composes the text highlights the inherent

For centuries women in literature have been depicted as weak, subservient, and unthinking characters. Before the 19th century, they usually were not given interesting personalities and were always the proper, perfect and supportive character to the main manly characters. However, one person, in order to defy and mock the norm of woman characterization and the demeaning mindsets about women, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote "The Yellow Wallpaper." This story, through well crafted symbolisms, brought to surface the troubles that real women face. Her character deals with the feeling of being trapped by the expectations of her husband, with the need to do something creative or constructive, and to have a mind and will of her own. These feelings

Therefore, it might be said that sex and gender distinction shows inequality, and also feminism argues that a woman is not oblige to live her gender role. Biology is a destiny, but a woman also can be masculine. At this point, feminist writer Charlotte Gilman addresses an important point that she says; “Every kind of creature is developed by the exercise of its functions. If denied the exercise of its functions, it cannot develop in the fullest degree.” (Gilman). It is a good point that leads women the way in order to break sex and gender discrimination. The woman in The Yellow Wallpaper is a crucial example which supports both Tyson and Gilman.

Feminism is the advocating for social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men (Random House College Dictionary). This story depicts just that. It is about a society made entirely of women with no need for men. We see the perspective of men through the eyes of our narrator. He gives us the point of view from three different men about women. Herland takes the traditional stereotypes about women and reverses them entirely. Everything that was once regarded by feminine and masculine standards was taken away. The women had short hair and athletic bodies. Their clothing was not provocative but built for comfort and convenience. They were not coy and flirtatious. They did not need men.

The 1860's-1890's was one of the most corrupted timelines throughout history. Women during that era can be easily compared to slaves and were controlled by the male gender. (Smith). "The yellow paper," was used as a tool for the author charlotte Gilman to express her experience as a female of the 1860's-1890's. She reflects on the oppression and struggles of women seeking freedom through the use of imagery, constant use of self-questioning and symbolism.

While the story turned into, to begin with, a mixed opinion, it has for a reason ended up a seminal painting in feminist literature, inspiring countless interpretations and analyses. Gilman's critique of gender roles and patriarchal oppression continues to resonate with readers today, underscoring the iconic relevance of her

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a famous social worker and a leading author of women’s issues. Charlotte Perkins Gilman 's relating to views of women 's rights and her demands for economic and social reform of gender inequities are very famous for the foundations of American society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In critics Gilman ignored by people of color in the United States and attitudes towards non-northern European immigrants (Ceplair, non-fiction, 7). “Gilman developed controversial conception of womanhood”, by Deborah M. De Simone in “Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the feminization of education”. Gilman’s relation to reading deserves more attention than it has received (“The reading habit and The yellow wallpaper”). Her work about Women and Economics was considered her highest achievement by critics.

She didn’t agree with the whole women bow down to men, scheme, that was the ordinary for this time period. She was a very independant woman and wouldn’t let herself be brought down by a man (O'Connor-Salomon, A Woman Ahead). Gilman suffering from Postpartum Depression more than likely played a large role in her writing of The Yellow Wallpaper. She took her personal experience and transferred it onto paper, altering it slightly to make an obvious point.

Kessler emphasizes the point that this one short story seemed parallel and mirror the views of Gilman in regards to the oppression of women in her society. Comparing the two, Kessler writes, “This once she was able to join her public and private expressions in a work of devastating impact” (Kessler 1991 p.159). Gilman, who was a leader and crusader in the women’s rights movement, tried to expel away the gender bias that plague women, just as the narrator in her story tries to pull off the wallpaper in her room to free the trapped women behind it. The patriarchal society at that time period was Gilman’s wallpaper. She had to work hard at trying to force through societal changes. Just like the resistant old wallpaper in her story, ridged and yellow with age, Gilman and her counterparts had much difficulty in pushing through the wallpaper of tradition.

In Herland by Gilman, Charlotte Perkins the author creates a utopia that is ran solely by women. In this utopia we explore life through a feminist lens. I will be referencing back to the book itself and my top three sources are the following. Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the Feminist of Education y Deborah M. De Simone, Feminism in Herland by Tammy Clemons, and lastly The Rape of the Text: Charlotte Gilman’s Violation of Herland by Kathleen Margaret Lant. “Gilman suggested how society and education might be different if motherhood rather than manliness became the cultural ideal.” (Simone) In Herland we experience the lives of the herlanders after years of living their lives following the pure essence of motherhood. Through motherhood herlanders

Marriage seemed to take away a woman’s independence, their self expression and their imagination. Taking away their interaction with the outside world and their individual progress. “I tried to have an earnest talk with him the other day…But he said I wasn’t able to go” (11) “I told him I was not gaining here” (12) however she really did not have the power to make the decision and leave. Before marriage, Gilman was as independent and had economic power. This all changed when she got married. She did not desire to follow the precedent of centuries of women in choosing marriage over a profession, but intended to pursue her goal of sacrificing personal pleasure to doing good and serving the world. (pg 158-159)

Throughout the twentieth century, feminism became a common topic of discussion, especially among relatively young women, and today has not proven any different. Feminism is divided into three time periods or “waves.” The first wave began in the early twentieth century as women began fighting for the right to vote, while the second wave began nearly half a century later and targeted other equality issues, such as discrimination. The world is currently in the middle of the third wave of feminism, which has become more personal and responsive to the failures of the second wave. Though many people still fight for the equivalency of rights between men and women, feminism has changed greatly since the first wave, and the third wave’s differences are now negatively impacting the female minds of today.