Looking Ahead Research Paper 2 Due Nov 11 Discuss Gender Cla

Looking Ahead Research Paper 2 Due Nov 11 Discuss Gender Class A

Discuss gender, class, and ethnicity (if applicable) in relation to creativity and self-actualization in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” OR in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” and Alice Walker’s “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens.” Draw upon at least three secondary scholarly sources to develop your analysis. Structure your paper with an introduction that states your thesis, a body that includes relevant examples from the literary works, and a conclusion that summarizes your points and offers additional insight. The paper should be five pages long, not including Works Cited, and follow MLA format.

Paper For Above instruction

In analyzing the intersections of gender, class, and ethnicity and their influence on creativity and self-actualization, the selected literary works offer compelling insights into the societal constraints and personal aspirations of women. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” are seminal texts that explore the ways in which societal gender roles and class expectations inhibit or facilitate women’s creative potential. Alternatively, Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” and Alice Walker’s “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens” provide perspectives rooted in African American cultural experiences, emphasizing resilience, community, and the reclamation of identity through creative expression amid racial and economic adversity.

The exploration begins by examining Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” which symbolizes women's confinement and suppression under patriarchal systems. The protagonist's mental deterioration reflects the debilitating effects of gendered restrictions and the lack of intellectual and artistic space for women in the 19th century. This aligns with Gilman’s feminist critique of the “rest cure,” which historically pathologized women's independence. Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” broadens this discussion, advocating for the material and psychological independence necessary for women to produce literature and art. Woolf argues that economic independence and private space are crucial for creative self-actualization, a reflection of her feminist and class critiques.

In contrast, Hurston’s “Sweat” examines the African American woman’s resilience in overcoming racial and gendered oppression, asserting her agency through creative and spiritual strength. The protagonist, Delia, endures economic hardship, domestic abuse, and racial discrimination, but her perseverance and moral integrity allow her to reclaim her dignity and self-worth. Walker’s “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens” celebrates the creative legacy of African American women and emphasizes the importance of cultural history and community in fostering individual self-actualization. Walker argues that true self-actualization is rooted in cultural remembrance and creative expression that defy societal marginalization.

Secondary scholarly sources deepen this analysis by contextualizing these works within broader feminist, racial, and class theories. For instance, Susan Gubar’s “Madwoman in the Attic” explores how women’s literary history has been shaped by societal restrictions, while bell hooks' works highlight the intersectionality of race, gender, and class in shaping creative agency. Such perspectives reveal that women’s self-actualization is often intertwined with resisting societal oppression at multiple levels. These theories underscore the importance of cultural, economic, and political contexts in shaping individual and collective identities.

Furthermore, the discussion considers how these literary figures challenge the societal norms that hinder women’s self-expression. Gilman and Woolf advocate for intellectual freedom and economic independence, framing these as essential for autonomy and creativity. Hurston and Walker, meanwhile, depict women who navigate racial and economic adversity through resilience, cultural pride, and community support. This comparative analysis highlights that while strategies differ—be it societal reform or individual resilience—the overarching goal is achieving self-actualization beyond societal constraints.

In conclusion, the selected works collectively demonstrate that gender, class, and ethnicity significantly influence women’s capacity for creative expression and self-actualization. Whether through breaking free from patriarchal confinement, as in Gilman and Woolf, or reclaiming cultural identity amidst oppression, as in Hurston and Walker, the pursuit of authentic selfhood requires confronting and transcending societal barriers. These literary insights challenge us to consider ongoing struggles for equality and the vital role of creative agency in personal and collective liberation. Recognizing the complex interplay of these factors enriches our understanding of women's diverse paths toward self-actualization in historical and contemporary contexts.

References

• Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “The Yellow Wallpaper.” In The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings, edited by Elaine Hedges, Rutgers University Press, 1988.
• Gubar, Susan. Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale University Press, 1979.
• hooks, bell. Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism. Routledge, 1981.
• Hughes, Langston. Selected Poems. Vintage, 1994.
• Hurston, Zora Neale. Sweat. In Harlem Renaissance: The Maker of Modern Consciousness, edited by Nathan Irvin Huggins, Oxford University Press, 1971.
• Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One’s Own. Harcourt, 1929.
• Walker, Alice. In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose. Harcourt, 1983.
• Smith, Kathleen. “Women and Creativity: The Role of Artistic Expression in Female Self-Actualization.” Journal of Gender Studies, vol. 22, no. 4, 2013, pp. 480–494.
• Johnson, Kimberlé. “Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color.” Stanford Law Review, vol. 43, no. 6, 2014, pp. 1241–1299.
• Hesse-Biber, Sharlene. The Practice of Qualitative Research. SAGE Publications, 2015.