Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Truth Without Fear

The young girls’ summer empowerment camp, Truth Without Fear, explores five general problems women face in the 19th century. Each day, the camp chooses one problem to focus on for five days. Three needs Truth Without Fear identifies are independence, motherhood, and sexuality. The camp meets these needs through facilitating talks with 19th-century feminists as well as related activities. As part of the Victorian era, a woman is considered the property of her husband or her father. This is shown in The Awakening when Lèonce regards Edna as one of his personal possessions. Truth Without Fear is trying to instill the idea that women are more than just the wives of their husbands or daughters of their father. To promote independence and self-identity, the girls at the camp are invited to speak with Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Gilman’s short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, demonstrates the importance of a woman’s freedom and the consequences of the lack of independence and self-identity. The following activity forces the girls to recognize the different ‘masks’ they wear and confront the idea that women can and should be independent and have their own identity. Truth Without Fear also brings in Elizabeth Cady Stanton to talk to the girls about motherhood. In The Awakening, Edna is constantly reprimanded about her
Emma Goldman, a guest speaker at Truth Without Fear, talks to the girls about not fearing their sexuality but embracing it. Ms. Goldman tells the girls to love whoever they want and encourages them to love however many people they choose to. Through Ms. Goldman’s talk, the girls will be more comfortable about discussing and exploring their sexuality. Then, the girls will read “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, a story about sexuality. By reading “The Storm” and talking with Ms. Goldman, Truth Without Fear establishes the ability for girls to confidently explore their sexuality and not be ashamed of