immediate introduction to the colour which frames the female protagonist would have reverberated with Victorian readers as their knowledge of popular culture associated with the ‘Yellow Book’ would have been relevant and stimulating. This periodical was ‘distinctive in design and typography as well as in contents’ which was a technique used by many radical literary figures, including the authors being studied within this essay, as they all used the form of a short story. The short story was a relatively new form of writing which was celebrated for its ability to cultivate discussion about a controversial and topical subject matter. The revolutionary figures of the late-Victorian era embraced the opportunity for projecting new and unconventional
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‘Male’s control of our sexuality forms clearly when ancient peoples settled in one place to produce food, clothing and shelter’ and resulted in ‘fathers replacing mothers as the source of all social ties.’ This hierarchical system entraps women and men alike from birth, and it is the unquestioning obedience of the unequal gender roles that caused the centuries of repression, and although it has significantly improved in contemporary society, the problem is still incredibly prominent and destructive. It is this history that caused and developed the conventional gender roles that the Victorians assumed and believed; it had been relatively unchallenged for centuries due to immediate conditioning and acceptance of the discriminating ideologies that prevailed. Therefore, for women in the fin de siècle to not only realise this crippling and unjust system, as women had previously been conscious of this, but to publically vocalise and address the issue was a huge step towards change. By this period in history, stereotypical gender characteristics had been thrust upon both men and women therefore influencing their behaviour, ability to publically speak their minds, internal thoughts, and relationships. This male dominated society had also defined and
‘Male’s control of our sexuality forms clearly when ancient peoples settled in one place to produce food, clothing and shelter’ and resulted in ‘fathers replacing mothers as the source of all social ties.’ This hierarchical system entraps women and men alike from birth, and it is the unquestioning obedience of the unequal gender roles that caused the centuries of repression, and although it has significantly improved in contemporary society, the problem is still incredibly prominent and destructive. It is this history that caused and developed the conventional gender roles that the Victorians assumed and believed; it had been relatively unchallenged for centuries due to immediate conditioning and acceptance of the discriminating ideologies that prevailed. Therefore, for women in the fin de siècle to not only realise this crippling and unjust system, as women had previously been conscious of this, but to publically vocalise and address the issue was a huge step towards change. By this period in history, stereotypical gender characteristics had been thrust upon both men and women therefore influencing their behaviour, ability to publically speak their minds, internal thoughts, and relationships. This male dominated society had also defined and