English 101 studied a very diverse selection of works this semester. Each work has its own unique message that contributed to a greater understanding of literature and society. Many of the works discussed similar topics, but two that complement each other especially well are Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, and an excerpt from Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Bitch Planet. These works discuss a multitude of issues facing our society, however they focus specifically on issues facing women. It is interesting that both of these texts are set in different time periods, however the messages that they convey apply seamlessly to the time period that we are living in today. Both The Yellow Wallpaper and Bitch Planet, despite drastically different styles of the writing, convey similar points about issues that have faced women throughout history, and continue today. 

The central idea in Bitch Planet is the idea that women are being forced to fit into a certain image dictated by society. DeConnick discusses how detrimental this aspect of society can be for women. It is seen as shameful for women to differ from society’s expectations in any way. In Bitch Planet, the women are expected to do as the men wanted them to. They were discouraged from being their own individuals. If they did not conform to the image of a blonde, thin, quiet woman, they were looked down upon. This is evidenced in the text when one of the government officials asks: “How long since you prioritized how others see you? (DeConnick 190)” This shows that women were encouraged to be a certain way for society, regardless of what the women wanted for themselves.  

This idea is also reflected in The Yellow Wallpaper in slightly different terms. The conflict the narrator in this story faces a more internal struggle. She struggles with mental health issues throughout the story. Apart from the internal conflict within her own mind, there is a conflict in the story with her husband. Her husband wants nothing more than for her to be a traditional wife, but her mental illness is preventing her from doing this. Her husband puts the fact that she is not fulfilling what he is expecting of her over the fact that she is not mentally healthy. Society’s expectations for what their family should be was prioritized over the well-being of one of the family members. This goes along with the idea in Bitch Planet that what the women wanted for themselves was secondary to what society expected of them. 

A very interesting aspect of both of these texts when taken into context together is the time frame in which they are written. The Yellow Wallpaper was set in the late 1800s, meanwhile Bitch Planet, is set in a futuristic, dystopian-like time period. The settings are important in that this helps to determine what type of issue is most prominent in the work. It is clear to see in these works that while the details of these issues may differ slightly between time periods, the concept is the same. The main issue discussed in both of these works is the fact that the appearance of these women in the context of society is being prioritized over their own personal health and life. This is a way of exposing the issue that has been prominent throughout society that it does not matter what women want as long as they are conforming to society’s standards of what they should want. These works make the reader look at the world today and see how these issues are presented in today’s society. We can see how these issues are presented in two different time periods, and assess how they are presented in our own. 

Many of these issues in the two works discussed are still very important in terms of the world today. The movement going on today is centered around ignoring societal expectations, and doing what feels right on an individual basis. Both of these works are advocating for this. Penelope’s line in Bitch Planet: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it (199)” is a message that advocates for doing what the individual thinks is best, regardless of what society wants. This is saying that just because someone or something may not fit societal standards, it does not mean that they are broken. Penelope’s message is one of individualism in the face of pressure to conform. The Yellow Wallpaper takes a more grim outlook on the individuality being advocated for in these works. The narrator says: “John says if I feel so, I shall neglect proper self-control; so I take pains to control myself- and that makes me very tired (Gilman 300).” This excerpt reveals a sentiment that has echoed throughout history, and is still very prominent today. It can be exhausting to conform to what others expect, especially if it differs so strongly from what is important to the individual. 

 Both of these works are both very influential in the discussion of feminism today. The Yellow Wallpaper has been particularly important in that respect. An article by Andrew Barker has discussed this in length. He discusses the importance of using works by women authors in the classroom. This is an important aspect of all aspects of the discussion of feminism in today’s world, which is to get women involved in the conversation, and to be prominently involved in the discussion. Another important aspect of the classroom discussion of feminism was to take a very close look at how the women in these works are being treated by the men in the works. This says a lot about what the standing of women was in the time period the piece was written in, as well as forces students to look critically at our own society to assess if things have truly improved (Barker).

The creator of Bitch Planet, Kelly Sue DeConnick, advocates for the importance of remaining true to one’s self in ways beyond her work as an author. In a recent interview, she mentions criticism she received where she was called an “angry feminist.” Her response to this criticism was: “This is not an angry feminist. You want to see an angry feminist (NPR)?” In this sentence she accepts who she is and sends a message that it is admirable to be the person you are no matter what society thinks of that person. She goes on to discuss how in society today, everyone is afraid to be disliked, but she advocates for doing what is right no matter how it may alter other’s perceptions. The interview makes it incredibly clear that DeConnick practices what she preaches. The messages portrayed in Bitch Planet are clearly tenants DeConnick lives by in her own life. 

Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, along with Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Bitch Planet are two works that at first glance could not seem more different. It would be easy to think this, as The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story set in the 1890s, and Bitch Planet is a graphic novel set in a dystopian future. However, a closer look will point to many similarities in these works. Both of these works are feminist commentaries about societal expectations, specifically renouncing societal expectations as well as the pressure to conform to these standards. Bitch Planet is a work where Penelope, the main character openly defies these expectations. It is easy to see why when looking at an interview with the author, why is a proud feminist and advocates for being who you are regardless of society. The narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper, faces a larger struggle in denouncing the expectations of society and her husband, largely due to the time period in which it was set. However, this work is one of the most influential works in the discussion of feminism, and has been for many years. 
