Introduction
The Yellow Wallpaper is a key piece of feminist literature. It is a short narrative written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892 for feminists seeking to eliminate unfavorable gender stereotypes in the nineteenth century (Nadkarni 218). Gilman’s masterpiece, published in the New England Magazine, precedes the campaign for women’s voting rights in the United States.
During the first wave of feminism, Gilman was a social activist deeply involved in feminist groups. Her works questioned women’s enslavement in relationships and patriarchal family structures, as well as their lack of agency and physiological, economic, and societal autonomy in the community. The Yellow Wallpaper is still relevant today because it is a profound statement on the long-term effects of societal tyranny. The complexity of mental health, as well as the necessity of agency and independence, are in line with the modern-day struggle for women’s autonomy and individuality.
Story Background
Women received minimal or no freedoms and were expected to complete domestic responsibilities submissively around the time The Yellow Wallpaper was published. Gilman highlights the restrictive gender norms as male authority figures govern the lady throughout the entire novel. These are the woman’s husband, John, and her brother, both of whom were prominent physicians in society. Her spouse was incredibly controlling, dictating what she could do in her spare time, where she could sleep, and who she could see without regard for her feelings.
Nadkarni indicates that the story provided women with a fresh perspective, showcasing their capacity to forge their own identities and break free from oppressive constraints (221). Overall, Gilman employed the contrast of light and dark, simple syntax, and oppressive imagery to illustrate the enslavement felt by women during that time period (Quawas 38). This was done to effect change in future variations in societal standards and to educate the readership about the unjust conditions that women confront.
Implications After Publication
The Yellow Wallpaper sparked a massive change for women in the twentieth century as they rebelled against patriarchal norms. After abandoning their forced domestic lives, the women in the narrative were liberated to express their individuality. Women were supposed to submit to their male counterparts while managing the family respectfully. The story’s use of light and dark contrasts showed the necessity for women to hide their true colors in the light of society’s judgment, hampering their personal growth (Quawas 38). In the darkness, however, women were allowed to talk about themselves and fight to set themselves free from the oppressive, masculine confinement.
Gilman’s journey has resulted in significant improvements for women through the years. A year after this story was published, Ozyon indicates that Colorado became the first state to pass a law allowing women the right to vote (116). Other states followed later in the campaign that led to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which brought women’s equality in the US one step closer (Ozyon 117).
The Equal Pay Act was enacted by Congress in 1963 to eliminate wage disparities between men and women. Title IX was included in the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act of 1972, which ensured equitable access to higher education and professional institutions (Ozyon 118). The long-term impact of that single legal provision, which began equal access to school programs, has been truly spectacular. As quotas restricting women’s enrollment in graduate institutions were abolished, the number of women healthcare professionals, attorneys, architects, engineers, and other experts in the country increased. The legislation also increased young women’s engagement in athletics, beginning in high school and continuing through college.
Women have since been elected to positions at all tiers of government. According to Ozyon, Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to Parliament in 1916, and women still made up less than 3% of legislators 60 years later (121). Today, more women are elected to Congress, and numerous others serve as non-voting delegates, accounting for approximately 29% of overall representation (Ozyon 121). Women have effectively exploited the chance to change municipal, state, and national legislation in favor of women’s legal standing and social roles.
On a global scale, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirmed the equal rights of men and women, was an essential achievement for feminism. The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women also set a gender equality vision. In the workplace, many women have entered all types of professions, trades, and enterprises. Women continue to occupy positions in the church, the armed forces, and news reporting, with millions employed in unconventional occupations today.
Young women, including Malala Yousafzai and Nadia Murad, have recently broken boundaries and established new leadership models (Ozyon 121). Women’s financial liberation has been aided further by the women’s rights movement of the past. Married women were not given credit cards in their names for approximately the past three decades, and most women needed a male co-signer to acquire bank credit. Women working full-time earned 59 cents for every dollar that men earned. However, more progress is still needed on several other concerns.
Persistent Challenges
The most common form of pain that women continue to endure is assault and abuse. This presents The Yellow Wallpaper‘s core issue, which was the mental, emotional, and physical pain resulting from the restricted positions that women were permitted to play in society and their homes. In the story, the woman lacked freedom or a place in the marriage to speak for herself.
The same trend is continuing today, with the UN Women’s Agency projecting that approximately 45,000 women and girls will be killed by close companions or other family members globally in 2021. This means that, on average, over five women or girls are slain by somebody in their circle of relatives every hour. Approximately 736 million women aged 15 and older, or nearly one-third of all women, have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner abuse, sexual assault by a non-partner, or both at some point in their lives (UN Women). Violence is linked to factors that occur at the individual, family, community, and societal levels.
In the workplace, women continue to endure discrimination, given that they are paid less than men for doing the same task. Workplace violence, particularly rape or sexual harassment, has a detrimental impact on women’s productivity. Some countries have not passed legislation to deter marital rape, and child brides are still permitted, as are customs such as bloodletting and female genital mutilation.
In particular areas, constitutional safeguards against rape and domestic assault are being weakened or repealed. As men continue to control positions of power in the economic, political, and social arenas, there is a constant backlash against women’s rights. Women’s rights to sex and reproduction are under attack from a variety of sources. Despite minor advancements in the inclusion of women as leaders and public figures, they continue to face harassment, threats, and abuse, both online and offline (Ozyon 122). Personal freedom and attire are being policed regularly among many women and girls.
Today, young women boldly identify as third-wave feminists and confront these and other challenging obstacles. An increasing recognition of overlapping categories such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, and sexual orientation distinguishes the present feminist movement. Feminists actively employ media and pop culture to promote their beliefs and engage in activities such as publishing blogs, e-zines, memoirs, and novels (Ozyon 123). Current women liberators are most concerned with sexual harassment, domestic abuse, the gender pay gap, working conditions, self-image, rights to sexual and reproductive health, and honor crimes.
Conclusion
Gilman played a crucial role in voicing the suffering of women through The Yellow Wallpaper. For most of the 20th century, the women’s rights movement achieved significant successes, particularly in advancing equality in voting, education, and the workplace. However, little success has been attained in empowering women in the private space, with the female gender continuing to suffer increased cases of violence and abuse.
The Yellow Wallpaper remains highly relevant nowadays, as women continue their efforts to liberate themselves from a male-dominated society. The constant struggle for women’s equality in the workforce and equal opportunities remains heavily prevalent today. The story progressively encourages women to fight against gender oppression and discover a sense of accomplishment in their distinctive identities.
Works Cited
Nadkarni, Asha. “Reproducing Feminism in ‘Jasmine’ and ‘The Yellow Wallpaper.’” Feminist Studies, vol. 38, no. 1, 2012, pp. 218–44.
Ozyon, Arzu. “A Journey of Feminist Rebellion Through Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Short Story the Yellow Wallpaper and Her Novel Herland.” International Journal of Language Academy, vol. 8, no. 5, 2020, pp. 115-124.
Quawas, Rula. “A New Woman’s Journey into Insanity: Descent and Return in The Yellow Wallpaper.” Journal of the Australasian Universities Language and Literature Association, vol. 2006, no. 105, 2006, pp. 35–53.
UN Women. “Facts and Figures: Ending Violence against Women.” UN Women, 2022.