Only as we live, think, feel, and work outside the home, do we become humanly developed, civilized, socialized

Only as we live, think, feel, and work outside the home, do we become humanly developed, civilized, socialized

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a prominent American feminist, sociologist, novelist, and lecturer who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was a strong advocate for women's rights and believed that women should have the same opportunities as men to work outside the home and contribute to society. Gilman's famous quote, "Only as we live, think, feel, and work outside the home, do we become humanly developed, civilized, socialized," encapsulates her belief that women can only reach their full potential and become fully realized individuals when they are able to participate in the public sphere.

Gilman's own life and work exemplified this belief. She was a prolific writer and lecturer who traveled extensively to promote her ideas about women's rights and social reform. Through her writing, she challenged traditional gender roles and advocated for women's economic independence and social equality. Gilman believed that women's confinement to the domestic sphere limited their intellectual and emotional growth, and that only by engaging in work and social activities outside the home could women achieve true fulfillment and self-actualization.