A FEMINIST LOOKS AT EDUCATION - THE EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF GILMAN,CHARLOTTE,PERKINS

Charlotte Perkins Gilman is best known today as the author of ''The Ye llow Wallpaper.'' It is not generally known that she also developed a systematic and powerful philosophy of education. In this article I pre sent and analyze her educational theory using three conceptions of edu cation that are found throughout her theoretical writings and her utop ian novel Herland: education as social nourishment, education as socia l parentage, and education as social motherhood. I analyze the strengt hs and limitations of these three conceptions as metaphorical statemen ts about education. I also discuss the incisive feminist insights that Gilman's theory contains, and the radical ramifications it has for th e role of women in society and the nature of education as a social org anization and function. I conclude by discussing what her theory has t o offer educators today.