Women and Economics (ePub)

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) stands out as a trailblazing feminist and social reformer whose writings and ideas significantly influenced the women's movement and sociology. Gilman's seminal work, 'Women and Economics: A Study of the Economic Relation Between Men and Women as a Factor in Social Evolution' (1898), confronts the traditional role of women in the economic sphere, proposing that economic independence is essential for the emancipation of women and for the progress of society. Her literary style combines precise argumentation with persuasive and accessible prose, which enabled her ideas on gender roles, labor, and the family to resonate with a broad audience and to influence succeeding generations of feminists and social theorists. Rejecting the notion that domesticity should define women's lives, Gilman advocated for women's entry into the workforce and for social reforms that would enable women to combine work and childcare. Her intellectual contributions extend beyond 'Women and Economics' into a diverse body of work that includes fiction, such as the renowned short story 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' and other non-fiction analyses of social and domestic issues. Through her writing, Gilman has left an indelible mark on feminist thought, emphasizing the intersectionality of economic and gender-based oppression long before the term became a feature of contemporary discourse.