Deck 5: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Question 1

Which of the following terms would not have been a preferred descriptor for white, middle-class women during the late nineteenth century?

A) fragile
B) childlike
C) commanding
D) delicate

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Gilman's semi-autobiographical account of her experience dealing with depression - and one of her most well-known stories - published in 1892 was entitled

A) The Darkened Well
B) The Yellow Wallpaper
C) A Day With Sunshine
D) A Summer Forgotten

Answer 2

B

Question 3

For Gilman, a woman's economic status is dependent upon:

A) The amount of house service she performs.
B) Her ability to meet her own economic necessities through work.
C) The economic status of her husband.
D) How well she is paid for child care.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Following social Darwinist theory, Gilman went so far as to assert the

A) Incomplete evolution of the female sex
B) Natural superiority of the female sex
C) Inferiority of the female sex
D) Natural dominance of the male sex

Question 5

When Gilman studied gender inequality following a Marxist tradition, she analyzed which factors?

A) political and economic
B) political and cultural
C) cultural and religious
D) economic and religious

Question 6

According to Gilman in The Yellow Wallpaper, truth is the domain of which of the following?

A) science
B) forces of production
C) men
D) reality

Question 7

Gilman compares the traditional position of the woman as per existing standard division of labor to that of a

A) ruling queen
B) domesticated horse
C) trusty dog
D) pack mule

Question 8

For what act during her lifetime was Gilman particularly criticized by that era's press?

A) "giving away" her husband and child
B) having an abortion
C) living with another woman
D) lecturing at universities

Question 9

Gilman drew upon which three sociological theoretical traditions for her work?

A) symbolic interactionism, functionalism, feminist theory
B) feminist theory, social Darwinism, symbolic interactionism
C) social Darwinism, symbolic interactionism, Marxist theory
D) Marxist theory, functionalism, Durkheimism

Question 10

If women were actually compensated for their work in the home, Gilman states

A) Poor women would still be poor because they are busy looking for work
B) Poor women with lots of children would get the most money
C) Rich women with lots of children would get the most money
D) Rich women would still be rich even without children

Question 11

Gilman's metaphor and discussion of the corset is similar to which other sociologist's concept?

A) Durkheim's solidarity
B) Weber's bureaucracy
C) Marx's false consciousness
D) Durkheim's profane

Question 12

During which period in the United States was The Yellow Wallpaper rediscovered as a keystone in newly developing women's studies programs?

A) 1940s
B) 1960s
C) 1970s
D) 1980s

Question 13

In response to the notion "a woman's place is in the home", Gilman replies

A) This is correct due to a woman's childrearing responsibilities
B) This is correct due to a woman's naturally nurturing qualities
C) This is incorrect since not all women have homes and/or own families
D) This is incorrect since most of the work done is house service not child service

Question 14

Gilman states "women's work" in the home is mostly

A) Child rearing
B) House service
C) Maintaining the marriage
D) Gossiping about neighbors

Question 15

To whose work does Gilman's parallel with her main point that social bonds are absolutely essential to mental health in The Yellow Wallpaper?

A) Marx's formula for capital
B) Durkheim's work in Suicide
C) Weber's verstehen
D) Anzaldua's intersectionality

Question 16

Gilman's passage concerning corsets is used as a metaphor for

A) lack of control by women over fashion
B) their role as mothers
C) general constraints placed upon women
D) their role as wives

Question 17

For Gilman, profit for women only comes through the power of

A) Sex distinction
B) Domestic service
C) Sex attraction
D) Child rearing

Question 18

Which of the following is not prescribed by doctors for patients undergoing the "rest cure"?

A) immobility
B) overfeeding
C) seclusion
D) sleep

Question 19

Gilman's focus on differential socialization as a cause for sustained gender inequality stems from which sociological tradition?

A) Marxist thought
B) Functionalism
C) Symbolic interactionism
D) Durkheimian thought

Question 20

Gilman's basic theoretical orientation is considered by the authors as

A) nonrational, individual
B) nonrational, collective
C) rational, individual
D) rational, collective

Question 21

A woman's profit comes through the power of sex-attraction according to Gilman.

Question 22

The traditional division of labor strips women of their freedom according to Gilman.

Question 23

Gilman's example of the corset is used as a symbol against women's fashion in her era.

Question 24

Gilman argues that, unlike other animals, humans

A) have a strict sexual division of labor that prevents women from developing their natural talents.
B) possess secondary sex-distinctions that ensure the healthy reproduction of the species.
C) have under-exaggerated their sex distinctions, allowing women to pursue a range of social roles.
D) equality is essential for both sexes.

Question 25

The protagonist at the center of The Yellow Wallpaper is at the mercy of her husband due to dual legitimacy.

Question 26

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was the first woman sociologist.

Question 27

Gilman feels there is not enough emphasis on sex-distinction for women.

Question 28

Gilman argues the degree of clumsiness, feebleness, and lack of intellectual activity is due to their socialized preoccupation with

A) raising children.
B) catching a man.
C) bearing children.
D) earning a wage.

Question 29

The Yellow Wallpaper was one of many pieces of nineteenth century literature to tackle the topic of sexual politics in male-female and husband-wife relations.

Question 30

Gilman considered the traditional family structure as inherently exploitative.

Question 31

Gilman argues that women are so indoctrinated that they resist their own "freedom."

Question 32

__________ is the development of masculine and feminine organs and functions.

A) Sex-distinction
B) Sex-attraction
C) Sex-union
D) Sex-relations

Question 33

During the nineteenth century it was assumed that women were "incapable" of rational, scientific, logical thought, yet were also not valued for their "feminine" ways of knowing either.

Question 34

The relationship between husband and wife during the nineteenth century is more of that between a parent and a child rather than partners or equals.

Question 35

Due to Gilman's prestige as a sociologist, many magazines tried to outbid one another in order to publish The Yellow Wallpaper.

Question 36

Gilman does not define "economic independence" as:

A) Paying for what one gets.
B) Working for what one gets.
C) Giving to the other an equivalent for what the other gives him.
D) Pay according to gender.

Question 37

One of the central themes of Gilman's work is the lack of economic independence for women.

Question 38

Gilman compares the traditional position of the woman to that of a domesticated horse.

Question 39

Gilman's feminist perspective inherently referred only to white women.

Question 40

According to Gilman, the source of a woman's economic well-being lies in

A) the number of children she gives birth to
B) her ability to pursue advanced educational opportunities
C) economic independence
D) sex-attraction

Question 41

Explain Gilman's discussion of the corset in your own words. Do you think there are contemporary examples from fashion that could be used for the same argument?

Question 42

Define Gilman's terms "sex-distinction" and "sex-attraction." Discuss how you feel (if you do) society today still overemphasizes both terms. Include examples for support of your argument.

Question 43

Discuss the attributes of Gilman's theory which you feel make her a feminist scholar. Compare and contrast her feminist perspective to contemporary feminist perspectives. Are they different? If you believe they are, explain how and provide examples to support your argument.

Question 44

Name Gilman's three main intellectual influences as outlined by the authors and give an example of each in Gilman's work.

Question 45

Explain Gilman's comparison of women and the domesticated horse. Also, explain whether you agree or disagree that this comparison still holds true today.

Question 46

Explain the difference between the terms "sex-distinction" and "sex-attraction." Also, explain how they are connected in Gilman's work.

Question 47

Summarize Gilman's main points on gender inequality. Argue if today's mass media does or does not perpetuate the themes of her work.

Question 48

Explain Gilman's passage which begins with the line "the horse, in his free natural condition, is economically independent." In addition, discuss today's world using Gilman's perspective and answer whether you think Gilman's theory is still relevant.

Question 49

Discuss Gilman's social Darwinist influences and how some of her beliefs based on this type of theory diminish her otherwise strong feminist perspective.

Question 50

Discuss how Gilman's discussion of the corset is connected to Marx's concept of false consciousness.

Question 51

Discuss some of the limitations inherent within Gilman's particular feminist perspective. Consider what she may have been missing during her era and from her experiences.

Question 52

Gilman stated that young girls were encouraged to think, act, and talk differently from boys even if their interests were identical. Discuss areas where you feel these differences are still encouraged, today.

Question 53

According to Gilman, what determines the economic (in)dependence of an individual? How are sex-distinctions related to one's economic status and equality? (female as nurturer)

Question 54

Explain Gilman's discussion of division of labor. Discuss how much you feel this division of labor has changed in contemporary times.

Question 55

Explain Gilman's line "…the sex-relation is also an economic relation" from Women and Economics. Also, provide examples from cultures other than the U.S. as part of your explanation.