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THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT, 19TH CENTURY
CONTEXTUALIZATION: The feminist movement, which is also known as the Women's Movement or Women's Liberation, is a cycle
of campaigns focusing on issues such as reproductive rights, for instance abortion, equal pay, domestic violence, maternity
leave, and sexual harassment/violence. Though, the overall goals of the movement vary from country to country. The movement's
very beginnings date back to before the 18th century, but the actual start of modern feminism began during the later part
of that century. The earliest instance of this movement was in the criticism of the restrictive role of women, however not
necessarily claiming that women were disadvantaged or that men were at fault. The movement as a whole is generally said to
have begun in the 19th century as more and more people adopted the view that women were oppressed in an overwhelmingly male-centered
society. The feminist movement is rooted in the West and in the reform movement of the 19th century in particular. The organized
movement is dated from the first ever Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, 1848. The basic arguments stated
at this convention were that both men and women were created equal; that they are gifted with certain inalienable rights,
among these being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These arguments made up Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Declaration
of Sentiments. In this, Stanton connected the rights of women directly to the American symbol of liberty. She detailed areas
of life in which women were treated unjustly and the proposed resolutions for each. After the two-day discussion at the convention,
the Declaration of Sentiments and their resolutions were granted endorsement.
First-wave feminism refers to a period of feminist activity during the 19th and early 20th century in the United Kingdom
and the United States. Its primary focus was on gaining the right of women's suffrage. Leaders of this movement include Elizabeth
Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Each of these women had campaigned for the abolition of slavery prior to defending women's
right to vote. Several other feminist activists of importance included Lucy Stone, Olympia Brown, Emma Goldman, Margaret Fuller,
Helen Pitts, and Margaret Sanger. First wave feminism in the United States is thought to have ended with the passing of the
19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
SALIENT POINTS: During this time period, popular literature was on the rise. Women writers became very prominent in
society as well. Literature was no longer just a male-dominated field as it had been prior to the 19th century. Women wrote
such works as poetry, novels, journalistic articles, and even cookbooks. Many of their novels featured issues such as the
home, child rearing, relationships between women, religion, abolition of slavery, and the right to vote. For the most part
works focused primarily on women's issues and interests. Stories were sometimes very didactic or aiming to educate readers.
Other famous women writers at this time included Harriet Beecher Stowe, Willa Cather, Kate Chopin, Edith Wharton, and
Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Beecher Stowe is well known for her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which deals with antislavery. A short
summary of this novel can be viewed here. She also wrote nine other novels, and numerous short and nonfiction pieces. Willa
Cather was not only an author, but a journalist, teacher, and editor for McClure's magazine as well. She won the Pulitzer
Prize for One of Ours in 1923. Her most famous novel was My Antonia. A summary of this novel can be viewed here. Two of her
short stories, 'Neighbour Rosicky' and 'Paul's Case' are featured in our course textbook. In her works, Cather tends to focus
primarily on landscape and nature, yet still writes of inner prospectives such as the soul, heart, and the home. Kate Chopin
was famous for her numerous short stories such as 'An Egyptian Cigarette' and 'A Vocation and a Voice' as well as her controversial
novel The Awakening. A short summary of this famous novel can be viewed here. Her short story 'Desiree's Baby' is featured
in our course textbook. Edith Wharton was the first woman to ever win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for her novel The Age of
Innocence. A short summary of this novel can be viewed here. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a poet, novelist, short story
writer, non-fiction writer, lecturer, and social reformer. She was the niece of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Catherine Beecher,
both advocates of feminism. Her most famous work was the short story we will be reading titled 'The Yellow Wallpaper.' This
story was based on her own stint with severe depression. A short summary of this short story can be viewed here.
INFLUENCE ON THE SHORT STORY: Popular literature was on the rise during this time. Communication was expanding through
the literary press in ways such as newspapers and magazines, and by other means, such as advertisements. This informed women
of the opportunities opening up for their gender. Women's popular literature of this period was full of advice about and encouragement
for proper housekeeping. Keeping a neat, clean house that was inviting to others was what women sought to achieve at this
time. In her writings, Catherine Beecher voiced a strong opinion to promote the status of housework. She attempted to convince
her readers that their daily household tasks were important and assigned to them by God. However, it was clear through these
differing opinions that the lives of women were stressful at this time. Magazines and newspaper articles set very high standards
for cleanliness and cheerfulness of women. This expanding culture was expressed in popular magazines and women's publications
at the time.
This topic influenced the American short story by including many more women writers in the period. Before the 19th century,
not many women were writing short stories or novels. In general, popular literature was on the rise during this period.
Yet now women writers became well known in society. Literature was no longer just a male-dominated field as it had been prior
to the 19th century. The women's movement of the 19th century gave women more freedom not only in society, but also to write
and to be authors. Before this time it was unheard of for a women to be an author. However, woman authors wrote many of the
short stories in our textbook.
CONNECTIONS TO OUR CLASS: Women authors wrote many of the short stories we will be covering in our textbook. Stories
such as 'Neighbour Rosicky,' 'Paul's Case,' 'Desiree's Baby,''In the Land of the Free,' 'Life in the Iron-Mills,' and 'The
Yellow Wall-Paper' are all included in our text. However, I feel that the clearest connection between this topic of the 19th
century woman's movement and our class is 'The Yellow Wall-Paper'by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Gilman was not only a writer
of poetry, non-fiction, short stories, dramas, and novels, she was also a social reformer and lecturer. She grew up around
aunts Harriet Beecher Stowe and Catharine Beecher, both of which were advocates of feminism. In addition, her aunt Isabella
Beecher Hooker was a supporter of the women's right to vote and suffragist. Much of her fame was achieved with lectures on
women's issues, labor, human rights, ethics, and social reform. Often she referred to these subjects in her fiction. Gilman
called herself a humanist. She believed the domestic environment oppressed women and argued that male aggressiveness and
women maternal roles were no longer necessary for survival.
In direct connection to our class, is her short story 'The Yellow Wall-Paper.' To view the story in its entirely click
here. The short story deals with an unnamed woman (the narrator) and her husband John. They have a newborn baby as well.
A summerhouse has been rented in hopes that the woman will overcome her postpartum depression. The doctor has prescribed
a rest cure for the woman of peace and quiet. Ultimately, the woman goes insane in her small room believing that she has come
out of the wallpaper and that she has been a trapped woman. The connection between the two is the idea of the woman’s
movement and women being ultimately trapped by society and its domination of males.
*To see an explanation of why Gilman wrote this short story click here!!
CITATIONS:
http://www.legacy98.org/move-hist.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_movement
http://www.connerprairie.org/historyonline/1880wom.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Perkins_Gilman
http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/whyyw.html
http://www.library.unt.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/women/19th.htm
http://womenwriters.net/domesticgoddess/cather1.htm
http://womenwriters.net/domesticgoddess/chopin1.htm
http://womenwriters.net/domesticgoddess/wharton1.htm
http://womenwriters.net/domesticgoddess/domestic.html
*All hyper linked summaries are from spark notes!
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