Final: Perkins Gilman

Question 1

What did she do?

Answer 1

-she wrote and published a lot of books

Question 2

What was her primary concern?

Answer 2

-the women question

Question 3

What is the women question?

Answer 3

-debate about the nature of woman and woman’s proper role and status in society

Question 4

What did she examine in her books?

Answer 4

• barriers women face to full intellectual development

- private to public spheres

Question 5

What was the core of her argument in Women and economics?

Answer 5

-the human race is characterized by a unique economic situation

Question 6

What did the Yellow Wallpaper explore?

Answer 6

• women not being able to have meaningful work in the public sphere
• consequences of a society that limits women

Question 7

What does Gilman’s sociological theory focus on?

Answer 7

Economics (like Marx);

• the economy is a foundational social institution (same as Marx)
• meaningful work is the essence of human self-realization, labour is good and intrinsic
• fundamental divisions in society are based on sex (rejects Marx here)

Question 8

What is the sexual economic relationship?

Answer 8

• women find themselves as subordinate and disempowered beings standing in opposition to men
• economic dependence on men

Question 9

What are the consequences of the sexuo-economic relationship for men?

Answer 9

-involved in both parenthood work in the public sphere

Question 10

What are the consequences of the sexuo-economic relationship for women?

Answer 10

• must choose between private and public spheres
• women depend on men for all their needs
• creativity is minimized in private sphere

Question 11

What are the consequences of the sexuo-economic relationship for children?

Answer 11

-raised in an environment of obedience

Question 12

What are the consequences of the sexuo-economic relationship for society?

Answer 12

-the elimination of women like qualities (kindness, cooperation etc.) are removed from society

Question 13

What is Gilman’s solution to the sexuo-economic relationship?

Answer 13

• break up the existing arrangement of the sexes that left women dependent on men
• via economic emancipation of women, allowing them to choose the work they do

Question 14

Who would benefit from Gilman’s solution?

Answer 14

• household and the economy would be more effective if all women participated in work
• welfare of children would be enhanced by entrusting them with child experts
• only through women as leaders would society improve

Question 15

Why was Gilman excluded from the canon?

Answer 15

• critics claimed she was not a sociologist

- anti-women and anti-feminist bias

Question 16

How were Gilman’s publishings recovered?

Answer 16

-by emphasizing some things and downplaying others

Question 17

What was emphasized about Gilman’s writings?

Answer 17

-more egalitarian role of sexes

Question 18

What was downplayed about Gilman’s writings?

Answer 18

• racist

- eugenics

Question 19

Does using Gilman bring something new to the women question?

Answer 19

Yes,

• Durkheim believed women were more influence by their bodies and nature therefore less socialized
• Marx said sexism had to do with classism