"The Yellow Wallpaper" and "Women and Economics"

I think one of the reasons why a large number of women do not have economic independence is due to the religion or traditions. The division of labor in the past did not encourage women joining the workforce. While the husband in a family has responsibility to do the breadwinning part as a support to the family, women were left home taking of household work and taking care of their children. As this kind of division of labor lasted for so many decades, it brings difficulties for women in the contemporary society to become completely independent. Such change in division of labor seems to violate the social norm.

I agree that women lack economic independence is due to how the society is set up. The most successful women in the past are housewives, as seen in Betty Freidan's writing. Therefore when women want to go into the labour force, they are stepping out of the norm, and thus discouraged to do so. This causes this group of people to reply on their husband solely, which leads to a lack of economic independence.