Gilman’s theory of oppression of mainly focuses on the economic consequences it creates (Bratton et. al, 12). Our androcentric society places women in the position of subordinate (oppressed), subjected to the will of man, the “master” (Allan and Daynes, 7). Gilman sees oppression as being alienated from nature as we depart from our social being (Allan and Daynes, 7).
Gilman notes how the nuclear family oppression of women impacts our economy by minimizing the number of breadwinners and creative potential of society (Bratton et. al, 12). Raising a child is comparable to a full-time job, though women today are expected to work and raise children without compensation for the latter.
Gilman believed the patriarchy created a dependence for women on men economically, perpetuating the oppression by solidifying society’s ideas about women’s ability to join the workforce. Gilman notes that race-preservation promotes the welfare of society (Lengermann and Niebrugge 4). Race-preservation stimulates successessfull species growth, like working with your community to build a local shelter.
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To GIlman, self-preservation promotes personal betterment and survival and is our strive to attain personal success (Lengermann and Niebrugge 4). Self-preservation fuels oppression by creating a self-centered divide, promoting competition and thus promoting tactics to minimize competition (in the workplace, home, and academia).
Du Bois’ oppression theory states society must label the oppressed as a problem; use their shortcomings, instead of social structure, to stereotype their actions; exclude the oppressed from historical texts; and misrepresent, and create assumptions about the oppressed (Allan and Daynes, 8). The way African Americans are portrayed in media express and develop a negative connotation about them to emphasize socially constructed racial stereotypes.
These stereotypes work to legitimize oppression by dehumanizing African Americans, allowing their socio-economic status to be blamed on their “laziness” or “drug use” to justifying their unequal treatment (Allan and Daynes, 8). White men hold power over institutions, which also act to oppress African Americans by writing history books to exclude African Americans. (Allan and Daynes, 8).
Both Du Bois and Gilman see oppression negatively affecting society by hurting it’s potential to grow. They differ in their reasoning, as Gilman is mainly focused on the economy, while Du Bois is mainly focused on social welfare and equality. Gilman and Dubois also differ in terms of historical animosity. Gilman sees the mode of oppression as the patriarchy, but she insists one should not be upset by its past atrocities, because while the domination of men have brought harm, they have also brought “necessary and great good” (Allan and Daynes, 7).
Du Bois, on the other hand, saw the past atrocities as unacceptable and notes how they help perpetuate the negative stereotypes contributing to racial problems. Both perspectives give different opinions on how to end oppression. Du Bois saw the end or oppression beginning with equal and accurate representation, and accountability on the government’s part. Gilman saw oppression’s end in equal economic representation, which could also be applied to African Americans.
