Sumblog#6 Charlotte Perkins Gilman

     What struck me the most in our latest study of sociological theory, was the disparity between Charlotte Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper and her work Women and Economics. The chasm between them so clearly delineates into a left brain vs right brain topical approach, that it had me wondering why professor Barry assigned The Yellow Wallpaper.
      I thought "science" -sociological theory- was all facts, figures, numbers, surveys and test tubes. Where Women and Economics appealed to my logical Nature, The Yellow Wallpaper appealed to my humanity/emotion. I enjoyed reading The Yellow Wallpaper, but felt like a studious little bookworm reading Women and Economics. Oddly enough, the information contained in Women and Economics and The Yellow Wallpaper are very clearly the same message!
      In a nutshell, Charlotte Perkins Gilman contended/revealed  that women lacked a voice in modern society, marriages were either partnerships and/or business arrangements, and that sociolgical education can be had in either pure-science or fictional stories. Fictional stories based in factual circumstance and detail are valuable educational tools. Anyone reading the story could confirm the social accuracy, and in doing so, become aware of the social inequalities.
     For me personally, I prefer the stories. They are far more revealing and carry messages much further. Ironically,  I can easily see " Dr. John" from The Yellow Wallpaper finding value in Charlotte's clinical paper Women and Economics, but dismissing outright his role in her fictional work.
     Charlotte Perkins Gilman's fundamental assertions about gender roles may seem quaint or parochial from our vantage point, but they were revolutionary in her day.
     I've included this short video clip from My Big Fat Greek Wedding  because it is a fine example of how many women view their social position in a marriage of partnership.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIm1dYTv-mQ
     This bit of folksy wisdom seamlessly meshes old world tradition with modern marriage.
     This second video clip embraces the cold hard realities of treating marriage like a business arrangement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxzdImxeN7E
     Both clips represent segments of the American general public.
     Which one appeals to you?