The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture

"The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a critical look at how society is built around men's ideas and values, written during the 1800s. The story says that this male-focused way of seeing the world has affected everything we know and do, causing women's work and importance to be overlooked. It starts by comparing people to sheep to explain how men and women naturally act. The story explains the differences between what is seen as masculine and feminine, saying that society has wrongly made masculinity the standard for everyone. The story suggests this has changed how we see human characteristics, stressing the importance of acknowledging and valuing what both genders bring to the table. This point of view also impacts family structures, roles, and how society works, setting the stage for a deeper examination of these problems.