SOC231H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Role Theory, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Social Darwinism
Document Summary
Influence of social darwinism: the evolution of society is pushed forward by. Critique of social darwinism as status quo theory . Perkins gilman use of social darwinism is rare because it is also critical of the status quo. Perkins gilman interrogates the assumption that traditional marriage is a. Partnership in which equal partners willingly exchange goods and/or services. Traditional marriage creates an unnatural economic dependence of women upon men: the labor of women in the house, certainly, enables men to produce more than they otherwise could; and in this way women are economic factors in society. Traditional marriage and gender socialization is contrary to nature: We are the only animal species in which the female depends on the male for food. (246) Due to economic dependence, women are reduced to their power of sex female depends on the male for food. (246) Due to economic dependence, women are reduced to their power of sex-attraction.
