Volume V Special Issue V November 2025

Name of Author : Ms. Alshazadhi Fathima R,

Title of the paper : THE REST CURE AS CULTURAL OPPRESSION: READING THE YELLOW WALLPAPER THROUGH DISABILITY STUDIES

Abstract: Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper 1892 is a highly influential text which focuses on the medical and cultural practices of nineteenth century. It also exposes that how women were suffering in the Patriarchal Authoritative society and disabling social norms. This paper highly examines the dual concept of cultural norms and social disability by arguing that the narrators psychological impact is a less result of medical and personal illness and it is more of reflecting cultural oppression and socially constructed disability. The husband John plays both physician and husband who often decline to notice the illness and concern of the narrator. He also insists in Rest cure which indirectly silenced the narrators creative exposure as well as worsen her condition. The Yellow Wallpaper has become a powerful text which talks about the cultural confinement of the women within oppressive ideologies. Ultimately narrators identification with the trapped women and the act of writing shows the confused mental stater which signify both rebellion and collapse, illustrates the resistance oh disabling system of power.

Keywords : Social disability, rest cure, patriarchy, cultural studies, medical discourse, resistance, womens mental health

DOI :

Page Number : 158-160