gilmans analysis of how societal pressure presses women from a young age

Question 1

one of gilmans key ideas is that from a very young age girls are subtly coerced into

Answer 1

conforming to specific societal expectations that prepare them for traditional roles as mothers and homemakers

Question 2

this societal conditioning is reinforced through various means including

Answer 2

the toys and girls play with and the clothes they are encouraged to wear

Question 3

the toys and activities designated for young girls are not merely for play buy

Answer 3

serve the purpose of socialising girls into their expected adult roles

Question 4

dolls and playhouses for instance were not just harmless fun they were part of

Answer 4

a broader societal mechanism to install that the role of women in society is that of caregiving and domestic responsibility

Question 5

similarly the clothes designed for girls often emphasise aesthetics over functionality for example dresses

Answer 5

dress that restricted movement were not conducive to physical activity discouraging the physical freedom and exploration that are more commonly associated with boys clothing

Question 6

this difference played a crucial role in defining gender roles from a young age and teaching girls that

Answer 6

their value in society is measured by their physical appearance and ability to conform to feminine ideals of beauty and passivity

Question 7

Gilman argued that this societal pressure from a young age was a key part of the

Answer 7

patriarchal social order that sought to maintain women’s subservience by limiting their roles opportunities and economic independence from the earliest stages of life

Question 8

as a result she argued that

Answer 8

gender neutral toys activities clothing and expectations should be introduced to allow women to grow and reach their potential without being confined by gender stereotypes

Question 9

this would help break the cycle of gendered expectations and foster

Answer 9

amore egalitarian society