The Negative Effects of Post-partum Depression Due to Detrimental Oppression of Women
The biggest cause in escalating post-partum depression in both the 19th century and today is the oppression of women in our society. Even though the oppression of women is not as prominent today as it was during the Victorian era, it is still present. Generally, the fear of embarrassment hinders women from admitting their illness. Often times, because women are so ashamed of post-partum depression, it will go untreated and their mental health will spiral downward, causing them to hallucinate or commit wrongful acts against their children. In "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte P. Gilman, due to the misunderstanding and ineffective treatments of postpartum depression, at the time, the narrator's mental health diminishes dramatically. Similarly, in our society today, there are many cases where women repress their illness and eventually the depression becomes too great, triggering the new mothers to commit tragic acts against their children.
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English: An American Lady butterfly against a clou...
The Yellow Wallpaper, one of Gilman's most popular...To interpret post partum depression, one must penetrate the mind to better understand the women who suffer from this illness.
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