Question

In at least 150 words, explain why Gilman is considered a feminist writer. Use “The Yellow Wallpaper” as an example of feminist writing.

Answer 1

Here are some pieces to get you started:

Some qualities of a feminist writer are that they examine the imbalance of power between men and women and call out ways that men assume power over women. Many feminist pieces looked at how women were treated in social settings as well as their homes, which is what "The Yellow Wallpaper" does. 

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is a piece that shows how poorly women with mental illness were treated. The doctor (also her husband) underestimates the woman's state and adds to her descent into further madness. She locks herself in the room, feeling trapped inside the house, her mind, her body. This mirrors the sense of feeling trapped in a marriage where the man has all of the control and she is not allowed equality.