Gender Inequality in Marriage in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and Marilyn French’s The Women’s Room

Abstract

This research article explores the theme of gender inequality in marriage as depicted in Kate Chopin's The Awakening and Marilyn French's The Women’s Room. Both novels critically examine the societal constraints and expectations placed upon women in patriarchal structures and how these impact their autonomy, freedom, and identity within marriage.  The article sheds light on the miserable situation of marriage in the 19th century in Western culture and the influence of patriarchal interference in forming Western culture. In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and throughout the protagonist of the novel Edna Pontellier, the work reflects the lousy condition of marriage in the 19th century. Also, the study will deal with the continuity of women’s suffering in the 20th century through Marilyn French’s The Women’s Room and by the protagonist Mira Ward. Furthermore, the paper deals with the importance of feminism and women’s literature in defending women’s rights and demanding justice for them in the world. This comparative analysis highlights the evolving but persistent nature of marital inequality, emphasizing how both authors use their protagonists’ stories to critique and challenge traditional gender roles. The study concludes that while the two works are separated by time, they share a common feminist discourse that underscores the need for societal transformation to achieve true gender equality in marital relationships.