Charlotte Perkins Gilman was born on July 3, 1960 to her parents, Mary Fitch Westcott and Frederic Beecher Perkins. Upon the death of two infant siblings, Gilman's father left the family. Gilman then grew up with her mother and one other sibling, traveling from place to place and staying with relatives. Gilman's childhood was by no means an easy one because her mother was forced to support the family alone. In the late 1800's society was male dominated and it was almost impossible for a women to support her family. Gilman did not have an understanding of an ideal marriage. Her only experience was that of her parents and that her father left them. She promised herself never to be put into that situation and never to marry (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Par. 2).
Gilman's promise was broken in 1884 when at the age of 24 she married her long time boyfriend. This decision to marry Charles Walter Stetson came after much thought about her career and how married life would hinder her writing. On March 23, 1885, Katherine Beecher Stetson was born (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, par.1). Shortly after the birth of her child, Gilman had a nervous breakdown. The Doctor informed her that the only way to get better was to limit her educational advancement to a couple of hours a day and to stop writing. Gilman obeyed and stopping all forms of intellectual work and nearly went into mental ruin (Why I Wrote, p.1). This began the down fall in her life and culminated with Gilman getting a divorce, leaving her child with her ex-husband, and moving to California to continue her writing
Gilman wrote "The Yellow Wallpaper"; in response to her own nervous breakdown after the birth of her child. She stated about the piece, "It was not intended to drive people crazy, but to save people from being driven crazy, and it worked" (Why I Wrote, p.1). Gilman intended to show women that they were being treated as children that had no mental thought of their own. Intellectual thought was said to drive women towards insanity. Gilman knew by her own experiences that metal ruin was caused by not applying herself to her learning and writing. For Gilman, being void of any intellectual work, deteriorated her mind, body and soul (Why I Wrote, p.1).
Gilman did not want all women to work outside the home, but she thought it necessary for all women to have an education. This would enable them to raise better children and not to repeat the same mistakes (Gough and Rudd, 131). Gilman believed that family was the most important educational institution. She thought that the public schools were institutions of the male society teaching self interest and competition which only made a weak mind not one that allows the person to think on their own (Gough and Rudd, 132-133). Educated women can contribute as much to society, as men. Gilman believed housewives should not go unpaid because their work is just as necessary as man's work outside the home. Upon earning wages, housewives can become economically independent and be active members of society (Golden and Zangrando, 11).
In "Women and Economics", Gilman wrote about educational reform, how necessary it is for women to be aware of what is going on in the world, and to be independent. Gilman predicted in her writing that men and women can come to realize that it was in best interest of society that women can fulfill their potential (Golden and Zangrando, 43) An educated woman loses nothing but can gain knowledge and contribute more to society. With the publication of "Women and Economics", Gilman was able to be self-sufficient and continue her writing.
Gilman's life was dedicated to her work and helping women be able to succeed in a patriarchal society. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was diagnosed with incurable cancer and took her own life on August 17, 1935. She believed that it was better to stop her life before she started to suffer. Gilman will always be remembered as one of the first feminist writers; she set an example for many future feminist reformers and writers to follow.
