During the 19th century, women were not treated equally by men. Women were not treated like an equal and their mental health was not taken care of. In the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the main character is a woman who suffers from depression. Her husband, John, does not listen to her problems and treats her like a child instead. In the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Charlotte Gilman talks about women’s suffrage during the late 18th century to early 19th century. In the story the woman says, “There was some legal trouble, I believe, something about the heirs and co-heirs; anyhow, the place has been empty for years. That spoils my ghostliness, I am afraid; but I don’t care—there is something strange …show more content…
During this time many women were not listened to as men thought that they were not on equal terms with them. Also, she says, “It is a big, airy room, the whole floor nearly, with windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine galore. It was nursery first and then playground and gymnasium, I should judge; for the windows are barred for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls. The paint and paper look as if a boys’ school had used it. It is stripped off—the paper—in great patches all around the head of my bed, about as far as I can reach, and in a great place on the other side of the room low down. I never saw a worse paper in my life.” This shows that John is treated her as a child by putting her in a nursery thinking it could help her get better. Many women’s mental problems were not seen as a big deal during this period. Furthermore this led to mental problems getting worse. Lastly, “The front pattern does move—and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it! Sometimes I think there are a great many women behind, and sometimes only one, and she crawls around fast, and her crawling shakes it all over. Then in the very bright spots she keeps still, and in the very shady