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Rebekah Naler

ENG 302: Contextual Approach

May 7, 2018

Evolution of Women

Feminist ideas have changed over the years, ranging from moving out of domesticity into

equal wages among men and women. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, “If I Were a Man”

shows the personal experience of a woman wanting to be a part of society, but unfortunately,

having to become a man in the process. The definition of feminism, according to Webster’s

Dictionary, is “women’s movement, women’s liberation, and women’s rights”. Gilman’s short

story shows the feminist idea by using women’s liberation and women’s rights as the foundation

Gilman’s short story. I am writing a feminist approach to Gilman’s short story because of the

connection to the evolution of women that is shown through Mollie Mathewson turning into man

while struggling internally to find herself. The societal expectations that both Gilman and Mollie

Mathewson experience was the idea that women should stay in home but also society placed

limitations on women preventing the exploration of the world for women. The personal struggles

that Mollie Mathewson faces during the story relates back to wanting to be a part of something

beyond her wildest dream, evolving to be in a society that is accepting of her and pushes the idea

that women do not belong strictly in the house. The evolution of women in society is seen in

Gilman’s “If I Were a Man” in two subcategories: breaking domesticity and the movement into

the workforce that allowed women to develop independence from men but also the societal

expectations placed upon them.

The evolution of women from the 1900s, according to the scholar Valerie Gill in her

article of Journal of American Culture, states that pushing against the social hierarchy that our

society has placed on men and women to keep dominance over just one sex, men. In the article

with Catherine Beech and Charlotte Perkins Gilman contrasting ideas of domesticity and women

working outside the home shows the evolution of the expectation of women within a short time

span. Catherine Beech believed in, “American womanhood…blend of self-denial and influence

exerted within the four walls of the home” (Gill 17), while, on the other hand Gilman believed

that society should “Undo the domestic ideology” (Gill 17). Accepting feminism took time when

looking not only at the historical aspect, but Gilman’s story, written in 1914, my analysis of

Gilman’s story supports the claims that Valerie Gill makes in her article about Gilman wanting

women to be outside the home and involved in industrial jobs. The evolution of women from the

domestic lifestyle to the workforce increased over the years with the masses of women pushing

against the expectations of society in which men had placed on them over the years. The

expectations of women are shown by Mollie Mathewson in “If I Were a Man,” as she is

described as a “devoted mother” (Gilman 161) and “beloved wife” (Gilman 161) which falls

under the overarching idea that motherhood and being a wife is the most important job that

women should have and worry about. The description that Gilman gives Mollie adds to Valerie

Gill’s argument as to putting women into the workforce. The usage of the train imagery and

everything being the “right size” (Gilman 163) adds to the allusion that women should feel as

confident and mystified as Mollie within Gerald’s body. The happiness combined with the

acceptance that she belongs in a “man’s world” while being in the workforce extends Gill’s

statement of putting women in the workforce is beneficial to promote equality but also women’s

rights (Gill 18).

The evolution of women in society today and Mollie Mathewson are similar when

looking at the bigger picture, starting from being just women that had multiple expectations as a

mother and wife, then to becoming independent in society shows a progression that could have

never happened without women like Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The progression of Mollie from

the beginning of the story to the end shows the feminist argument that Valerie Gill makes with

Gilman’s perspective: “Dependent and isolated situation of women…generate irregularity and

wastefulness with the larger economic system” (Gill 17). While reading the article, I found that

life within just four walls seemed functional but, as time changed, society was not far behind

while involving women created the functioning of society that we have today. Depending on a

man to support women, as well as the belief that “Women have their limitations” (Gilman 164)

creates a balanced economic system with women remaining under the wings of men. In the

Catherine Kalish article “The New Feminist Socialism”, she explains that Gilman was

“interested in social progress” outside the home (Kalish 133). She also states that Gilman was

concerned with solving ‘everyday problems’ inside the home as well” (Kalish 133).

As Gilman uses other works like “The Yellow Wallpaper” to show the aspects of

domesticity takes another track when reading along to an interpreted autobiographical story of

herself as a scholarly woman. The problems that Gilman experienced are similar to those that

Mollie experiences through the transformation from woman to man. The personal experiences of

Gilman pushing out of the societal expectations and finding herself like Mollie does shows

relation to Gilman as a feminist/utopian writer but also a woman fighting for her rights and

liberations from a “man’s world”. The transformation allowed not only for Mollie to experience

the difficulties of each gender, but also the society when it comes to responsibly. The push out of

the domestic side of the story by Gilman using Mollie turning into Gerald, but also Jane from
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“The Yellow Wallpaper” was interesting to learn about as I was researching Gilman and

feminism. Also, it was interesting how she her personal experiences in order to make a

connection with Kalish’s article. The connection with Jane and Mollie, but also Gilman, allowed

me to understand why she pushed hard against the men in her society that wanted to keep her

locked away just like Jane with the rest cure (“The Yellow Wallpaper”). The limitations of

women are shown because the rest cure was deemed reasonable by a society full of men for only

women acting out of character or the expectations placed upon them. The connections with Gill

and Kalish’s articles along Gilman pushes against the roles of society within domesticity, as

women are evolving to become more independent and functioning in society.

Women in the workforce not only revolves around working outside the home to earn

money, but also adding on other responsibilities with motherhood being the most important.

Gilman, throughout her years, divorced her husband and took care of her daughter alone while

she was traveling and giving lectures (Kalish 127). Kalish’s article shows the experiences in

which Gilman tries to take care of her daughter while showing women that moving out of the

house is more beneficial than harmful (Kalish 128). As Gill presents her article as “fulfillment of

their own sex…literary mapped out” (Gill 18), which contributes to women in the workforce

because of the information of the woman place is ultimately wherever needed, “Architectural or

environmental counterpart…social relations” (Gill 18). The push against the domestic lifestyle

for women contributed to them becoming productive within society and being considered freed

from men as independent.

The workforce and Marxist mindset intertwine when it comes to Gilman’s push for

women, as Gill states that “Gilman particularly distances herself…class-oriented language of

Marxist analysis” (Gill 20). While reading about Gilman’s experiences of breaking domesticity
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and entering the workforce, the contribution to other women in her life in which pushed her to

become what she is known for today, but also what she represents in the eyes of younger

feminist/utopian writers. Kalish supports the information found about Gilman in the workforce

by stating, “Women have been carefully educated over time…special achievements is to be

unwomanly” (Kalish 128). The understanding and accomplishments that women are making is

reflected back to the beginning which men and women were seen unequal based on gender. The

workforce side of Mollie Mathewson’s life completes the overarching idea of pushing against the

inequality with the “account rendered” (Gilman 161). The push against the societal expectations

allowed for, not just women to make a statement, but those that wanted to speak out against

oppression. Many authors like Charlotte Perkins Gilman reached out to find those that need the

support like Kalish states, “Gilman realizes that her success is in part due to the generosity of

many women,” (Kalish 132). Kalish continues to describe the women as “fine women,

thoughtful progressive women” (Kalish 132) as Gilman saw them throughout her journey to push

against the oppression and societal expectations placed on them. The heartfelt realization that

Gilman is not just looking out for herself, but her daughter as well, while still continuing to work

in benefit for women, as they push against the expectation in which men have placed on them.

Researching about the impact that Gilman pulls at the heartstrings of those around her because of

the encouragement and inspiration that she made throughout her life not just through her

literature but through her passion.

While doing research on Charlotte Perkins Gilman and her views on the evolution of

domesticity and workforces involving women, the conclusion I came to was the same as when I

started researching impactful events that effect women. Many of the feminist movements are

built off each other but each contain something different with each generation along the way.
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Digging into the feminist movements provided more insight to the idea of what were the

expectations society had placed on women throughout the time which reflects on today’s culture.

The push against staying in the home allows young smart women, like myself, to attend college

but also make the decision to get married and have children. The evolution of women has

changed our society, not with just finding equality among men and women but also allowing

each gender to understand the importance of standing up for something that is to be believed in.

This is exemplified through Gilman’s “If I Were a Man” because of Mollie Mathewson’s push-

back against her gender confines placed on her by society. In the future, I will find it interesting

to see what the impact of the evolution of women has made on society but also the impact that

feminism is making around the world when it comes to gender equality. The gender equality

around the world will be interesting to learn about with governments and societies that still

believe that women are nothing more than a sex object and baby maker. I would hope that one

day, our entire world, would see the benefit of treating everyone the same not depending on

gender, race, religious afflictions, or sexual orientation.

Works Cited

Gill, Valerie. “Catharine Beech and Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Architecture of Female Power.”

Journal of American Culture, vol. 21, no. 2, Summer 1998, pp.17-24. MLA International

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Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “If I Were a Man.” Literature to Go, edited by Michael Myers,

Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2017, pp. 160-165.

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The Bedford Anthology of American

Literature, edited by Susan Belasco and Link Johnson, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008, pp.

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Kalish, Catherine. “The New Feminist Socialism: Community in the Writings of Charlotte

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