Born in 1860, Gilman's life, according to our textbook, was not one of convention or stability. Unusually at the time, her parents divorced when she was nine. She herself was divorced after a ten-year marriage in 1884 that almost drove her mad. From this marriage was born the semi-autobiographical work entitled Le Papier Peint Jaune. Truly a feminist in the purest definition of the word, always active and enjoying all of life's passions that she has chosen. She even chose how she left this life in 1935. On a personal note, while researching an article on marriage and divorce a few semesters ago, I discovered that in the early Victorian era ( 1935-1901), a woman who married had almost no rights. All her property automatically became that of her husband. Although she owned her own land, her husband earned the income from it. A husband had the right to lock up his wife. If he beat her, she had no legal recourse. The law has largely withdrawn from matrimonial relations. Married women were lumped in with fools, idiots, outlaws, and children, and treated as such. Then, in another class a few semesters ago, I had the chance to take a class on women in literature and we studied this work (and watched the film). Having written an essay on this history, and now studying it as a sociological theorist is fascinating. Also knowing that his work was, according to Ritzer, systematically written from the past of American sociology, is thought provoking. Gilman argued that gender separation was responsible for the way the economic arrangement and division of labor were organized. and Weber view these factors very similarly. Weber views patriarchy as a structure of oppression and argues that there is no middle of paper for different cultures. Until households constitute patriarchal or matriarchal authority, there will never be complete equality. Perhaps a new universal society (yes, I invented that word!). I don't know enough about other households to make suggestions but I'm sure if I researched the subject further I could. I currently live in a home where I am single, free and independent. I haven't always lived in this type of home and I understand very well that education, self-esteem and empowerment are still subjects that need to be taught. The homes of close friends are also doing well. I think the difference may be that we are older and hopefully wiser. The need for power and authority, I believe, has diminished with increasing life experience. But I can only speak for myself and this is just my opinion..