Exploring Women's Health and Well-being in Gilman's and Chopin's Works

This essay delves into the perspectives of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Kate Chopin on women's health and well-being, contrasting their literary works to understand the multifaceted concept of health from a female perspective. The essay begins by defining health and well-being, emphasizing the significance of physical, mental, and social factors. It then explores Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper' and Chopin's 'The Awakening,' highlighting how Gilman portrayed the impact of societal oppression on women's mental health, and how Chopin explored the effects of sexual and social constraints. The essay compares their narratives, emphasizing Gilman's focus on gender roles and Chopin's exploration of sexual oppression. It concludes by underscoring the need for reconsideration of gender roles to enhance women's quality of life and improve health outcomes, referencing the WHO definition of health and well-being. The essay uses the provided references to support its arguments.

Running head: HEALTH CARE
Health care
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1HEALTH CARE
Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
evaluation of health is mainly done by consideration of physiological, psychological and social
factors in health. In addition, well-being is defined as the state of good functioning. Different
individuals have different meanings about health and well-being (WHO 2020). This differs based
on gender, social experiences and educational level. Gilman’s and Chopin’s works are renowned
as they have extended knowledge about women’s experience of physical and psychological
health and well-being. This article will compare and contrast the stories of Gilman and Chopin
and evaluate their narrative on health and well-being to understand the concept of health and
well-being from the perspective of women.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, the Yellow Wallpaper was published in 1892 and
through this story, Gilman portrayed the narrator’s insanity to protest against oppressions in
society. The author depicted that mental instability and poor psychological well-being is
experienced by women because of difference in their role and lack of opportunities to play
significant roles in a male-dominate society (Gilman, 2019). Hence, Gilman’s work is famous
mainly for exploring the role of women in U.S during the late 1800 to early 1900s and her
literature played a vital role in illustrating women’s lack of autonomy and its detrimental impact
on their mental, emotional and physical state. In contrast, the main point of view of Chopins
through his literary work like ‘The Awakening’ was that women go through adverse
psychological, social and sexual emancipation when they do not accept their place in their home.
It is a highly regarded piece of feminist literature as it shocks the readers with the themes of
female sexuality (Chopin, 2017). Compared to Gilman’s who described women experience of
well-being through biased gender roles, Chopin’s tries to explain the impact of sexual oppression
on mental health and well-being of women.

2HEALTH CARE
According to the WHO definition, health and well-being is a state of complete physical,
psychological and mental well-being. Gilman’s characterization in her literary works mainly
conveys the impact of social factors on well-being of women. Through the main character in the
‘The Yellow Wallpaper, Gilman mainly explained that mental illness is multifaceted and it
mainly stems from more than one biological and societal factors. The story revealed how a
patriarchal society endangered women’s physical and mental health (Gilman, 2019). Thus,
Gilman’s story mainly addresses the cause of mental illness. The strength of Gilman’s literary
skills is that through the main character in the story, it clearly explains the impact of fixed gender
roles on women. In contrast, Chopin’s literary work has feminist and psychoanalytic undertones
as it explains the discourse of female mental illness. The main theme in Gilbert’s work was
gender roles, whereas the theme in Chopin’s work was sexualism and experience of oppression
for women (Collman, 2016). Both the work suggests the need for reconsideration of gender roles
to enhance quality of life of women and improve health outcomes. This can only redefine
women’s identity and increase their opportunities in life.

3HEALTH CARE
References:
Chopin, K., 2017. The Awakening (Norton Critical Editions). WW Norton & Company.
Collman, E. M. (2016). The Discourse of Female Mental Illness in Kate Chopin's The
Awakening. Retrieved from:
https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1891&context=etdarchive
Gilman, C.P., 2019. The yellow wallpaper and other writings. Gibbs Smith.
WHO 2020. Constitution. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/constitution