Critics in the 19th century attacked Chopin's The Awakening because it represented ideas and beliefs - especially concerning gender, motherhood, and sexuality - that were often considered to be immoral by American society at that time. In fact, the book was censored and many critics advocated for it to be banned from publication. In American society at the time of the book's publication in 1899, American society was decidedly sexist and did not allow for the open discussion of any aspect of female sexuality.
