Social Context of "The Yellow Wallpaper"
![Mother and Child, 18909s](/uploads/2/5/0/0/25002658/8183404.jpg?198)
"Woman has no call to the ballot-box, but she has a sphere of her own, of amazing responsibility and importance. She is the divinely appointed guardian of the home... She should more fully realize that her position as wife and mother, and angel of the home, is the holiest, most responsible, and queen-like assigned to mortals; and dismiss all ambition for anything higher, as there is nothing else here so high for mortals."
— Rev. John Milton Williams, 1893
— Rev. John Milton Williams, 1893
Women's Roles
In the late 19th century, women’s roles in marriage and society were clearly defined. A woman was meant to be a nurturer for her husband and children.
An ideal woman for this time period was one dedicated to raising children and providing a happy home for her husband.
It was said that “the true woman’s place was unquestionably her own fireside—as daughter, sister, but most of all as wife and mother” (Welter 5).
Men were encouraged to live their life in the public sphere, the "outside world" away from home where social issues such as the buying and selling of goods, politics, the economy and the law were managed. Men did not need to contain themselves to the home (known as the "private sphere," where women were to take care of domestic issues like child-rearing, housekeeping and the religious education of the family unit).
Men had power over their own place in society and could make decisions that impacted their identity and growth in the workplace. Intellectual interests and other pursuits that took a woman away from the home were discouraged, as domestic life was to be a woman’s only priority (Papke 1990).
Additionally, since it was the husband’s role to provide for the family, it was deemed unnecessary for a woman to think about anything other than her domestic duties.
In the late 19th century, women’s roles in marriage and society were clearly defined. A woman was meant to be a nurturer for her husband and children.
An ideal woman for this time period was one dedicated to raising children and providing a happy home for her husband.
It was said that “the true woman’s place was unquestionably her own fireside—as daughter, sister, but most of all as wife and mother” (Welter 5).
Men were encouraged to live their life in the public sphere, the "outside world" away from home where social issues such as the buying and selling of goods, politics, the economy and the law were managed. Men did not need to contain themselves to the home (known as the "private sphere," where women were to take care of domestic issues like child-rearing, housekeeping and the religious education of the family unit).
Men had power over their own place in society and could make decisions that impacted their identity and growth in the workplace. Intellectual interests and other pursuits that took a woman away from the home were discouraged, as domestic life was to be a woman’s only priority (Papke 1990).
Additionally, since it was the husband’s role to provide for the family, it was deemed unnecessary for a woman to think about anything other than her domestic duties.
Traits of a Virtuous Woman
Highly revered virtues of a proper woman included:
“Put them all together and they spelled mother, daughter, sister, wife – woman. Without them, no matter whether there was fame, achievement, or wealth, all was ashes” (Welter 1). Submissiveness plays a major role in the historical context of “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Women in Charlotte Gilman’s era were to obey their husbands and abide by the decisions made by their husbands. If a woman didn't agree with her husband’s decision, she could try to persuade him to do otherwise. However, a true and virtuous woman in this time period would not push her husband too hard when trying to persuade him. “Wives were advised to do their best to reform men, but if they couldn’t, to give up gracefully” (Welter 4). |
Submissiveness also stemmed from a virtuous woman’s desire to be religious, since it was deemed an order from God that men had power over women. It was said that “men were the movers, the doers, the actors. Women were the passive, submissive responders. The order of dialogue was of course, fixed in Heaven. Man was woman’s superior by God’s appointment, if not in intellectual dowry, at least by official decree” (Welter 4).
Domesticity was also very important during this time period, as it was a focus in the women’s magazines. Social pressure to live up to being the ideal wife and mother certainly impacted women’s actions.
Women’s magazines encouraged women to be the family comforter, nurse, housekeeper and cook. Women were not encouraged to read novels, as it was believed women were too impressionable and could be “ruined by a book” (Welter 6).
Changing Tides
Although most women during this time period did believe in striving to be the ideal woman, there were changes taking place that encouraged some women (like Charlotte Gilman) to think “outside the box” and believe they could contribute more to society by going beyond the traditional role of wife and mother.
Women’s rights activists like Emma Willard started to tell women there was no reason they couldn’t have the same freedoms as men. She encouraged women to get educated so they could educate their children and one day leave domestic life for the outside world. It was even encouraged that women realize they could go into the workplace and have careers outside the home (Lipman-Blumen 1984).
“The movements for social reform, westward migration, missionary activity, utopian communities, industrialism, the Civil War—all called forth responses from woman which differed from those she was trained to believe were hers by nature and divine decree” (Welter 8).
Domesticity was also very important during this time period, as it was a focus in the women’s magazines. Social pressure to live up to being the ideal wife and mother certainly impacted women’s actions.
Women’s magazines encouraged women to be the family comforter, nurse, housekeeper and cook. Women were not encouraged to read novels, as it was believed women were too impressionable and could be “ruined by a book” (Welter 6).
Changing Tides
Although most women during this time period did believe in striving to be the ideal woman, there were changes taking place that encouraged some women (like Charlotte Gilman) to think “outside the box” and believe they could contribute more to society by going beyond the traditional role of wife and mother.
Women’s rights activists like Emma Willard started to tell women there was no reason they couldn’t have the same freedoms as men. She encouraged women to get educated so they could educate their children and one day leave domestic life for the outside world. It was even encouraged that women realize they could go into the workplace and have careers outside the home (Lipman-Blumen 1984).
“The movements for social reform, westward migration, missionary activity, utopian communities, industrialism, the Civil War—all called forth responses from woman which differed from those she was trained to believe were hers by nature and divine decree” (Welter 8).