I Stand Here Ironing By Tillie Olsen

Tillie Olsen was a feminist, and wrote about the struggle of women in American society. She grew up with socialistic ideals and became a union organizer in the 1930’s. She understood about the social injustices that existed in America, and was familiar with those imposed upon women throughout the 20th Century, bringing those issues to light in her work. “I Stand Here Ironing” epitomizes the adversity that young women face when trying to raise a family on their own. Not only is the social context of the difficulties women face characterized in the story, but also the guilt and regret that women experience, realizing that they were not able to give their child everything they needed. Olsen illustrates how financial hardship and the threat