Women and Economics A Study of the Economic Relation Between Men and Women as a Factor in Social Evolution

"Woman and Economics" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The work explores the economic relations between men and women and examines how these dynamics influence social evolution. By highlighting women's economic dependence on men, Gilman delves into broader themes of gender roles, societal expectations, and the implications for women's liberation. At the start of the book, Gilman emphasizes the historical context of male-female relations, portraying a time when both sexes lived more equally. She discusses the transition from this state of equality to one of economic dependence for women due to arbitrary societal constructs. Gilman argues that this dependence not only hampers women's social progress but also negatively affects the overall development of society. The opening sets the stage for a critical analysis of how economic factors shape gender roles and the necessity of recognizing women's contributions to society beyond traditional expectations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, also known by her first married name Charlotte Perkins Stetson, was an American humanist, novelist, writer, lecturer, early sociologist, advocate for social reform, and eugenicist. She was a utopian feminist and served as a role model for future generations of feminists because of her unorthodox concepts and lifestyle. Her works were primarily focused on gender, specifically gendered labor division in society, and the problem of male domination. She has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Her best remembered work today is her semi-autobiographical short story "The Yellow Wallpaper", which she wrote after a severe bout of postpartum psychosis.