Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Women and Economics Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Knowing how important a factor in the evolution of species is the economic relation, andfinding in the human species an economic relation so peculiar, we may naturally look to find effectspeculiar to our race. We may expect to find phenomena in the sex-relation and in the economicrelation of humanity of a unique character, -phenomena not traceable to human superiority, butsingularly derogatory to that superiority; phenomena so marked, so morbid, as to give rise to muchspeculation as to their cause. Are these natural inferences fulfilled? Are these peculiarities in the sexrelation and in the economic relation manifested in human life? Indisputably these are, -so plain, soprominent, so imperiously demanding attention, that human thought has been occupied from itsfirst consciousness in trying some way to account for them. To explain and relate these phenomena, separating what is due to normal race-development from what is due to this abnormal sexuoeconomic relation, is the purpose of the line of study here suggested. As the racial distinction of humanity lies in its social relation, so we find the distinctive gainsand losses of humanity to lie also in its social relation. We are more affected by our relation to eachother than by our physical environment. Disadvantages of climate, deficiencies in food supply, competition from other species, -allthese conditions society, in its organic strength, is easily able to overcome or to adjust. But in ourinter-human relations we are not so successful. The serious dangers and troubles of human life arisefrom difficulties of adjustment with our social environment, and not with our physical environment. These difficulties, so far, have acted as a continual check to social progress. The more absolutely anation has triumphed over physical conditions, the more successful it has become in its conquest ofphysical enemies and obstacles, the more it has given rein to the action of social forces which haveultimately destroyed the nation, and left the long ascent to be begun again by oth