Discussing the Social Constraints
In discussing the various social constraints experienced by the principle character in "The Yellow Wallpaper", one which perhaps best serves as evidence is found in the advice of the neurosurgeon to the antagonist of the story. Since the principle character was suffering from the so-called nervous ailments, the medical advice given by the neurosurgeon comprised of extended and complete bed rest; isolation from family and familiar surroundings; overfeeding, especially with cream with the assumption that increased body volume was the source of new energy; and massage including electric therapy for muscular excitation. These were more than a profound set of evidences depicting the patriarchal beliefs, practices, and thinking of the then male society against the women of the era. The advice of the doctor also convincingly proved the dominant nature of men, and attempts at subduing women through various measures including medical advice, all of which aimed at forcing the women to stay indoors and refrain from any social activities outside their homes.

The wording of the author of "The Yellow Wallpaper" also provide sufficient evidence on this typical patriarchal attitude which kept the women of pre-21st century era submissive. For example in Gilman's "The Forerunner", Gilman notes that the advice of the doctor was "not intended to drive people crazy, but to save people from being driven crazy, and it worked". (20)

The second work which also depicts a woman's struggle against the odds of a patriarchal society is "I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen, duly published as part of her collection of stories titled "Tell Me a Riddle", in 1961.
Though somewhat different from "The Yellow Wallpaper", the Olsen's story presents sagas of a working mother, as she cares for her children in the absence of her husband, who has left the family alone to bear the difficulties and hardships of life all by themselves. The similarities with the first discussed story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" are found in the fact that here too, the woes and stigmas of social deprivation of a woman were rarely heard, and addressing them was an altogether impossible. Thus, left on her own, the principle character of the story, depicting the working class women of the 1960s era, duly takes care of the job, her children, as well as handling the feelings of being betrayed by her husband.

Affects
A brief on the affects of each story on the lives of the women, as well as the women of the later era reveal that the author of "The Yellow Wallpaper" succeeds in portraying her stance, one which proved that she was not insane, as had been diagnosed by her neurosurgeon. In similar context, the author of "I Stand Here Ironing" also accomplishes her objective, as she convincingly brings out the woes and dilemmas of a working mother, the responsibilities of caring for children in the absence of her husband, and the burden of being both the mother and father for her children.