Unraveling Gender Discrepancy and a Feminist Call for Social Change: A Transitivity Analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Selected Poems

Abstract

This study explores the representation of women and gender discrepancy in selected poems of Charlotte Perkins Gilman through the lens of Transitivity, a key component of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) developed by M.A.K. Halliday. The research adopts a qualitative approach and analyzes six poems: The Housewife, One Girl of Many, To the Indifferent Women, An Obstacle, Wedded Bliss, and To Mothers. By examining process types, participant roles, and circumstantial elements, the study uncovers how linguistic choices construct social meanings and reinforce or challenge patriarchal ideologies. The findings reveal a dominant use of material, relational, and mental processes to depict women lived experiences, subordination, and evolving awareness. The study concludes that Gilman’s poetic discourse not only exposes gender inequality but also functions as a powerful call for social reform.

Keywords: Gender Discrepancy, Feminism, Transitivity, SFL, Charlotte Perkins Gilman