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In What can a Heroine Do? Joanna Russ explores the idea of patriarchy and dominant, male culture. What she is focusing on is that American culture has historically been shaped around a male viewpoint.  Women, according the Russ have their own culture that is “underground, unofficial, minor culture” (Russ 81).  Restrictions and expectations of how males and females are represented in literature are maintained by culture.  Writers are forced to represent women as mere supporting characters to the main character, a man.  Women writers are strongly encouraged to incorporate myths into their literature that is widely accepted, but Russ suggests that these “she-writers” create their own myths and not use old ones. 

InYellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman tells the story of a woman suffering from depression.  Advised by her husband to rest, the restless woman finds herself obsessed with the wallpaper that decorates the room which she is confined in. The woman notes that the room is geared more towards incarceration than rehabilitation.  Gilman, like many female writers of that time (19th century) examines the role of women in American society.  Gilman discusses the idea of being secondary as a woman.  What is noticeable about all of the readings discussed is that each of these women despite cultural and economic backgrounds, share feelings of oppression and voicelessness. Similar to Jackson, Cixous believes that through feminine writing, women are given a voice.  Like Ross, Cixous argues that it is the responsibility of women to write about their experiences and represent themselves. Gilman and Jackson are both members of the dominant, majority culture, yet both feel that because of their gender they belong to the minority, muted group.