In America, women’s voices have often been overlooked, creating a pervasive culture of misunderstanding and a lack of support in solving the problems that arise from it. As a result of this phenomenon, many pieces of literature have been written, both examining and mentioning instances of it. The historically silenced role of women in America and the resulting stigma surrounding their struggles sets the stage for texts such as “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck, and "Real Women Have Bodies" by Carmen Maria Machado.
An early example of the closer study of feminine disempowerment can be found in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” written in 1892. In this short story, the narrator, an unnamed woman, finds herself going insane in a vacation home chosen by…show more content… From the lack of mental health care experienced in the past by women to the fight for the right to bodily autonomy and a woman’s right to choose today, this is not a new concept. Gilman illustrated how, as humans, we long to own and control ourselves. When that right is stripped away in some form, the consequences are magnified. This commentary on womanhood is one of the reasons “The Yellow Wallpaper” is referenced as one of the earliest examinations of feminist values to this day.
A slightly more modern example is Steinbeck’s 1937 story “The Chrysanthemums," which has similar themes presented in a less obvious context. Eliza, the main character of the text, longs for purpose. She has little that she is in charge of, and pours all of her affection into her beloved chrysanthemum. The passion in her marriage is slowly fading, and she has little to do with the business of the farm. This is a woman adrift in her own life, which will inevitably lead to unrest. This disturbance takes form in the traveling salesman she
