Born in 1860, Gilman's life, according to our textbook, was not characterized by convention or stability. Uncommon at the time, her parents divorced when she was nine. She herself divorced in 1884 after a ten-year marriage that nearly drove her mad. This marriage produced the semi-autobiographical work entitled The Yellow Wall-Paper. Truly a feminist in the purest definition of the word, always active and passionate about whatever passion in life she chose. She even chose the way she left this life in 1935. On a personal level, 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 he married had almost no rights. All her assets automatically became her husband's. Even though she had her own land, her husband received income from it. A husband had the right to lock up his wife. If he had hit her, he would have had no legal redress. The law has mostly moved away from marital relations. Married women were placed in the same category as madmen, idiots, outlaws and children, and treated as such. Then, in another course a few semesters ago, I was lucky enough to take a Women in Literature class and we studied this work (and saw the film). Having written an essay about that story, and now studying it as a theoretical sociologist is exciting. Knowing that his work has been, according to Ritzer, systematically erased from the past of American sociology is also inspiring. Gilman argued that the separation between the sexes was responsible for how the economic arrangement and the division of labor were structured. Both Gilman and Weber see these factors in very similar ways. Weber sees patriarchy as a structure of oppression and argues that it does not exist ... middle of paper ... and for different cultures. Until there is patriarchal or matriarchal authority in families, there will never be complete equality. Maybe a new universal society (yes, I made that word up!) I don't know enough about other families to make suggestions, but I'm sure if I studied the topic more thoroughly, I would be able to. Right now I live in a family where I am single, free and independent. I have not always lived in this type of family and I can well understand how education, self-esteem and empowerment are still subjects to be taught. Families of close friends also did well. I think maybe the difference is that we are older and hopefully wiser. The need for power and authority, I believe, has diminished with increased life experience. But I can only speak for myself and it's just my opinion.