Women's Rights In The Yellow Wallpaper

The Unnamed Woman Up until the 1900’s woman had few rights, thus they relied heavily on men. Women could not vote, they could not own their own property, and very few worked. Women’s jobs were solely to care for children and take care of the home. Women during this time, typically accepted their roles in society and the economy ( “Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1909”). Women in the 1800’ and early 1900’s were treated the same as slaves, second class citizens who had no voice or decision over their lives. In the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892 with a late American 19th century setting. The main character, a nameless woman, fights depression and anxiety along with being oppressed by her husband John and wanting to rise against the norms of

Gilman writes “ he is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction.” (Gilman 648),this statement shows the mindset of women during the 1800’s and how men were superior even in the eyes of a woman. During the late 1800’s the current social issue was women’s rights. Many women like Charlotte Gilman were women rights activists. Not all women were in support of women having the same rights, and very few men believed in women 's suffrage. J.B Sanford, California 's senator in 1911 opposed women’s suffrage. Sanford wrote “The men are able to run the government and take care of women”(argument against women 's suffrage,1911) , meaning why should we give women rights if we, as men can take care of women. Sanford also stated “mother’s influence is needed at home”, he uses this as an argument to defend his argument that women should not have the same rights as men because they are needed at home, not in politics. Men believed it was best for them to stay in power and best if women stayed at home to care for the children and