Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Charlotte Perkins Gilman addresses many relationship issues that are still relevant to today. One of the first ideas is that of the subservient role of women in relationships. As much as Gilman and other women fought against this role, it certainly still occurs in modern-day relationships. Women are expected to defer to the wishes of the man. Another idea still relevant to today is inability of many to value the role of wife and/or stay at home moms. Still today, these roles are simply not valued enough. Another issue that retains its relevance is the nonchalant treatment of postpartum depression. In Gilman's time, this was not considered a real illness. While it is a real illness today, many see this as a depression that women should be able to control. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote this short story in order to "stop women from being driven crazy" by the contemporary treatment of postpartum depression. While she played a role in changing of roles for women, our contemporary society has a long way to go.

The first issue that Gilman brings up in "The Yellow Wallpaper" that still has relevance today is the idea that women should defer to the wishes of the man. The main character in the story has to follow her husband's wishes exactly or sneak around to break his rules. Open defiance or having her own opinion about her life is not an option. "The yellow wallpaper is symbolic of the Cult of True Womanhood, which binds women to the home and family. As in the case of Charlotte Gilman, women were constricted to the set parameters that men determined. Women are conditioned to accept these boundaries and remain in place, in the private sphere" (Thomas). While many would like to think this is not true today, it still is true for many women. How many women lie about going shopping or hide purchases from their husbands because they know they would meet disapproval?