Women and Economics

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was best known for her book, Women and Economics. She discussed how women could have a positive impact on the economy, however they are never allowed the chance to become involved. They are stuck behind the superiority of men, which gives them the credit for human progress. The reasoning behind this is that women succumb to the roles of women working in the household, which typically was passed down to their children. They never had to give them opportunities to have more successful jobs because they of how common it was to be an unpaid worker in their own home. Gilman best described the little chance women had in the job world when she stated, "She might work as she had worked from the beginning,-at the primitive labors of the household; but in the inevitable expansion of even those industries to professional levels we have striven to hold her back" (AR 355). Even though new advancements were being made, women took no part in them due to their obligation in the household. It was the goal of many men to keep it that way, and make sure women stayed out of the job of a laborer. Gilman found that if women had been accepted into this type of work, the economy could have seen far more advancements. However, Gilman stated that "The smothering 'no' which crushed down all her human desires to create, to discover, to learn, to express, to advance..." (AR 356) overpowered the women's voice in anything but the typical job of mothers. Because of all the negativity towards women working, Gilman believed that women started becoming more dependent on their husbands. It was a necessity to be married in order to receive, "Wealth, power, social distinction, face-not only these, but home and happiness, reputation, ease and pleasure, her bread and butter,-all must come to her through a small gold ring" (AR 356). This demonstrates that women began to believe that because they could not have a real job, the only way to happiness was through marriage. Having a husband would have them to have enough money and a stable lifestyle instead of depending on themselves to get the job done. I believe that we had society to blame for women believing this. It was the creation of the Women's Independent Citizenship Act that made women believe that being married was everything they needed. The act said that women could not even gain citizenship without a husband, so instantly it was implanting the necessity of a husband in their brain. By women having this lack of motivation to work, it becomes no surprise that they do not have recognition for success in America. However, I do agree that the power of women could have improved the workforce like how it does currently.

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, "Women and Econmics." The American Reader. Ed. Diane Ravitch. New York: New York, 2000. 354-356. Print.