2350 Broadhollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735

The Censorship Committee

To Whom It May Concern:

I wish to express through this letter my dissatisfaction with your chauvinist decision of not publishing The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkin Gilman. I think your arguments of it being “a distraction from traditional household duties” and “a threat to the rest cure” are unfair reasoning towards women’s rights and a complete lack of understanding of the text.

This short story, although different from our times, is a literary expression of a woman who can easily reflect the perspective of many more women around the world. Gilman expresses her own ideas as a woman, emphasizing with them that there is another face in the women of our time period. In the story, when Gilman says, “Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do?” (Gilman 316). She clearly shows that women have opinions of their own, which ought to be heard. Unfortunately she also demonstrates that due to the patriarchal society she lives in; there is no point for her to say anything when her words are going to be lost in the wind. Although she does not finish the sentence, she also says, “I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus …” (Gilman 316). Illustrating that women are restricted and demoralized by men, that the image our society has of them is negligent towards the changes we have come and that the lack of support makes them more vulnerable to fall into the condition she is “diagnosed”.

You also need to pay special attention to the use and idea of the rest cure. According to the science museum in the UK, “Mitchell believed the point of the rest cure was physical and moral. “ It was supposed to be a treatment of hysteria and other nervous illnesses. Hysteria symptoms, according to the museum, “included shortness of breath, heaviness in the abdomen, muscular spasms and fainting. Anxiety, irritability and embarrassing or unusual behavior were also noted.” Gilman only displayed the last symptom and it was evident to men at the time because of their sexist idea that women were only expected to serve as housewives. Oppression to women is so intense that some women started accepting their descripted roles. Gilman shows this with John’s sister when she says, “she is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession. I verily believe she thinks it is the writing which made me sick!” (Gilman 319). The oppression applied to women so far may be exhibiting consequences today.

You may also take into account that the developing movement of women rights in the United States might be a reflection of this type of work. The oppression women have had over the centuries has been the catalyst of this form of expression. We have come passed the point where women were subject to men. We have passed the period of time when women had to live under a patriarchal community. We have come to a time where women are intellectual human beings that have felt enough of the humiliation and limitation men have put on them.

I truly appreciate the time you have invested reading these important lines for oppressed women around the world. I hope you reevaluate your decision and that not far from now this valuable piece of literature is available for both men and women across the world.

Sincerely,

Jonathan A. Munoz