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Cover of The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture

The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture

by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935)

  • Free to read
  • 3 hours to read
  • 13 chapters
  • Reading level: 10th to 12th grade

"The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a sociological critique written in the late 19th century. The book examines the pervasive influence of male-centered ideology on society and culture, arguing that this androcentric perspective has shaped human understanding and institutions, leading to a systemic undervaluation of women's roles and contributions in various fields. The opening of this work sets the stage for Gilman's exploration of human nature by employing an analogy with sheep to discuss the instincts that guide males and females in the animal kingdom. She elaborates on the distinctions between masculine and feminine traits, suggesting that societal norms have artificially positioned masculinity as the default standard for all human characteristics. Gilman contends that this misunderstanding has distorted the perception of human qualities, emphasizing the need to recognize and appreciate the full spectrum of both sexes' contributions to society. Additionally, she hints at the consequences of this male dominance on aspects such as family structures, roles, and broader social dynamics, paving the way for her detailed analysis in subsequent chapters.

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  • Women · Social and moral questions
  • Women · Social conditions

Read the opening

I. As to Humanness

Let us begin, inoffensively, with sheep. The sheep is a beast with which we are all familiar, being much used in religious imagery; the common stock of painters; a staple article of diet; one of our main sources of clothing; and an everyday symbol of bashfulness and stupidity.

In some grazing regions the sheep is an object of terror, destroying grass, bush and forest by omnipresent nibbling; on the great plains, sheep-keeping frequently results in insanity, owing to the loneliness of the shepherd, and the monotonous appearance and behavior of the sheep.

By the poet, young sheep are preferred, the lamb gambolling gaily; unless it be in hymns, where "all we like sheep" are repeatedly described, and much stress is laid upon the straying propensities of the animal.

To the scientific mind there is special interest in the sequacity of sheep, their habit of following one another with automatic imitation. This instinct, we are told, has been developed by ages of wild crowded racing on narrow ledges, along precipices, chasms, around sudden spurs and corners, only the leader seeing when, where and how to jump. If those behind jumped exactly as he did, they lived. If they stopped to exercise independent judgment, they were pushed off and perished; they and their judgment with them.

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Contents

  1. I. As to Humanness
  2. II. The Man-Made Family
  3. III. Health and Beauty
  4. IV. Men and Art
  5. V. Masculine Literature
  6. VI. Games and Sports
  7. VII. Ethics and Religion
  8. VIII. Education
  9. X. Law and Government
  10. XI. Crime and Punishment
  11. XII. Politics and Warfare
  12. XIII. Industry and Economics
  13. XIV. A Human World

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About this edition

This free edition of The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture by Charlotte Perkins Gilman comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #3015, released 2002-01-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Gender & Sexuality Studies, Sociology.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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