Summer reading with the Women’s Center

Unpunished was written in the 1920s, as sympathy for women’s rights waned. Gilman had trouble placing the work, and it remained unpublished until the 1990s.

Looking for some fun reading to fill the last weeks of summer? Wright State University’s Women’s Center recommends Unpunished, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

“Unpunished is an enjoyable, light summer read,” said Amber Vlasnik, director of the Women’s Center, “but it’s also an interesting novel about a husband and wife detective team who model a very equitable personal and professional relationship both for the time the book was written as well as for today.”

Feminist author Charlotte Perkins Gilman is best known for her short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” an eerie story about a woman confined to her bedroom, slowly losing her mind. But Unpunished shows she had a playful side too. Unfortunately, Unpunished was written in the 1920s, as sympathy for women’s rights waned. Gilman had trouble placing the work, and it remained unpublished until the 1990s.

“We wanted to support the publishing of this important work by Charlotte Perkins Gilman,” said Vlasnik.

Discussion groups will meet in the Women’s Center, 148 Millett, on Friday, August 5, and Wednesday, August 10, from noon to 1 p.m. For more information about Women’s Center summer reading, contact Cindy Vanzant at (937) 775-4818 or cindy.vanzant@wright.edu.