In Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper", the story of 19th century mentally insane female is told. It is easy to believe that she is simply mad and the story is one written purely for entertainment. That is not, however, the case. This story is one that dives into the issue of the inferior and often cold-hearted treatment of women in the 19th century. This story contains layers upon layers of symbolism and deep meaning. By doing research on the time period in question, my interpretation of "The Yellow Wallpaper" has transformed from one of passive-curiosity to one of serious concern for the narrator and for the system of inequality that ravaged women in the 19th and 20th centuries. Furthermore, by doing researching on how the modern feminist movement compares, I believe the feminist movement to be something far more important than one of equal rights. By doing research on the 19th and 20th century feminist movements as well as the modern equivalent, I believe the feminist movement is not so much about equality, but about female success and validation independent of men.

Silas Weir Mitchell's Rest in the Treatment of Nervous Disease published in 1875 -- over 15 years before "The Yellow Wallpaper" was published -- is a truly interesting, albeit concerning, primary source directly relating to "The Yellow Wallpaper". In "The Yellow Wallpaper", our narrator receives a form for treatment dubbed the "rest treatment." This treatment is the brainchild of none other than 19th century physician Silas Weir Mitchell. In Mitchell's book, he claims "everything tired her [a female patient] ... to eat, to read, to digest," and that "the least effort quickened her pulse" (Mitchell 94). This form of treatment documented in a real medical journal is nearly identical to the treatment our narrator receives. Mitchell saw mental illness in women as a disease that could be cured through extreme bed rest. In modern medicine, this is absolute insanity. Our -- men and women -- pulses rise when we are active, it is biology. Furthermore, in modern medicine, the patient would likely be told to exercise more. Exercise is a tried and true way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improve mood and physical appearance. Mitchell goes on to say, "exercise without exertion is what we want" -- in regards to "curing" women's mental illness (Mitchell 95). Well, don't we all want that? Unfortunately it is not possible. He then continues to explain that this can be achieved by massaging the women's skin, muscles, and belly. In my opinion, Mitchell is the mentally insane one. Who, with any knowledge of the human body, would think this could be successful? This primary source, written by Silas Weir Mitchell, truly proves how real "The Yellow Wallpaper's" description of the treatment of women was. This incredibly backwards and even dangerous treatment of mentally unstable women in the 19th century -- months of forced inactivity and over-feeding -- would wreak havoc on even the strongest of women's bodies and minds.

A more recent, secondary source, a newspaper article titled "Return of the Cave Woman" shows that, even as recent as 1962, blatant female inferiority was believed and projected to the public. This article, written nearly 50 years ago, makes it clear to me that the themes of female inferiority present in "The Yellow Wallpaper" are still realities even after the passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920, allowing women to vote. This articles main goal is to discuss why women have been reverting back to the stereotypical housewife ideal. The writer, a woman named Margaret Mead, asks the reader, "Why have we returned, despite our advances in technology, to the Stone Age picture" (Mead). She also questions fellow women, asking why do women "[restrict] their activities to the preservation of their own private -- and often boring -- existences" (Mead). In reading this article, it made me wonder the same thing. Why? In my opinion, the male-dominance and systematic sexism (and racism) in the American culture during the 1960s more or less forced women back into the home. They did not have many other options. Near the end of the work, Mead calls attention to the fact that old women are very intelligent and that they "could draw on a lifetime of experience -- in childbirth, in healing those who were ill, in stanching the blood of the wounded" (Mead). She believes women have invaluable skills that can be taught to men, but by keeping women confined to their homes, this knowledge cannot be shared. Through examining this source, it is now a reality to me that in 1962, women were thought of very similarly to the way they were thought of in 1892. I thought we, as a nation, had made leaps and bounds of progress, I guess not. 

In modern times, we see numerous forms of feminism arising and changing the playing field. In Catherine Rottenberg's "The Rise of Neoliberal Feminism" one such form is explored. Neoliberalism is, essentially, a form of economical governance where the federal government plays little or no role in a nations economy. It is a fully free-market idea with few regulations. Rottenberg calls for a "high-powered woman who manages to balance a spectacularly successful career with a satisfying home life" (Rottenberg 428). Rottenberg argues that with a totally free market system, driven women can rise up and become massively successful. She believes that the current systems in place over the economy hold back driven women and, like Mead wrote, are systematic ways of keeping women in "the cave." Another point Rottenberg brought up that I found exceptionally interesting was as follows: "potentially high-achieving women are no longer interested in investing in relationships during their college years ... [they] find 'hookup buddies' rather than boyfriends. [It] is the 'low risk and low investment hooking up" (Rottenberg 430). This particular line, in my opinion, is taking a jab at those in society who so-called "slut-shame." These women are driven, determined, and focused on success, not on relationships. In my opinion, this is an extremely interesting and a very prominent idea. Driven men often want low commitment hooking-up, so why can't women have it? This piece, written in 2015, shows how we have shifted from a form of feminism urging for female equality -- like in "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "Return of the Cave Woman" -- to one urging for female empowerment and self-determination. 

The final source I am bringing forward is a photo-journal by The Huffington Post showing photos of prominent women in the feminist movement from the 17th century all the way to modern day. The first woman depicted is Anne Hutchinson. Hutchinson lived in the 1600s in the newly formed Massachusetts Bay Colony. By speaking out against the puritan leaders, she "challenged traditional gender roles" refusing to be silenced by the male-hierarchy (Huffington). Another woman in the photo journal is Women Suffrage Movement leader and National Women's Suffrage Association co-founder Susan B. Anthony. Anthony is best known for working tirelessly to help women gain the right to vote. Amelia Earhart, also depicted in the journal, requires no introduction. She was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic and, sadly, disappeared on her trans global flight never to be seen again. Then, in 1942, we see the iconic Rosie the Riveter pop-up. She was captioned saying "We Can Do It!". Her purpose was to convince women to play a bigger role in the economy and war effort while men were away in WWII. More modernly, we see media icon Ellen DeGeneres, the first openly gay star on TV, Condoleezza Rice, the first female National Security Advisor, and finally, Hillary Clinton, who won more presidential primaries in 2008 than any other female in the history of the United States. Clinton is also the current favorite 2016 Democratic presidential candidate. This photo journal depicts famous feminist women from the 17th century to modern times. It shows that the problems seen in "The Yellow Wallpaper" were hard fought by many outstanding women and, even now, many women are still working tirelessly to show their equality and worth in the modern economic, social, and political realm. 

In examining the numerous texts above, I have been able to see the greater importance of "The Yellow Wallpaper"; I have seen how unfair and even unsafe the treatment of women was in the 19th century, rippling all the way through the 1960s and continuing, to an extent, even now. Women were believed to be frail, weak, and best suited for the home. Mitchell believed that bed rest and force-feeding would help heal a mentally ill female, this dangerous and backwards idea is blatantly shown in "The Yellow Wallpaper." Margret Mead, through her newspaper article, questioned why, 40 years after passing the 19th Amendment, women are still conforming to the idea that they are better off physically and mentally if they stay in the home. Then, in Catherine Rottenberg's "The Rise of Neoliberal Feminism" we see a paradigm shift. Modern women are working for success and self-determination, not equality. The Huffington Post's "Women's History Month Photos: Iconic Images That Celebrate Female Achievement", visually shows this change. We move from photos of women defying men, to women succeeding in their own right. I believe the feminist movement is not so much for equality, but for female success independent of men. Success, in the 19th century, was embodied in the form of equality, and in the 21st century is found through economic independence. Women want to succeed and find power in their own right without the necessity of it being given to them by men. I believe Charlotte Perkins Gilman would be pleased with the progress we have made and would be an eager supporter of the modern movement. 

