Virginia Woolf has a very lyrical way of writing, a way of tying imagery of nature and a rejection of patriarchal ideals into a neat little bow. Of course, some of her writing is a product of its time. For example, A Room of One’s Own makes some valid points about the need for women to assert themselves in the creative field. However, she also makes some disturbing comments about women of colour. Of course, this complicates intersectional feminism as presented by modern scholars such as Kimberlé Crenshaw but, as long as we acknowledge this, then we can still consider the merit of some of her other statements. That being said, here are three things I have learnt:
1. Be Assertive
“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.”
In saying this, Woolf highlights the discrepancy between the education and expectations placed upon men and women in the writing sphere. In all spheres of life, women have had to work harder to prove themselves “worthy” of being there. The wage gap shows that this kind of discrimination is definitely still present. Therefore, women need to take a page out of Woolf’s book and make a name for themselves outside of what is expected from the patriarchy.
2. Be Individual
“Women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size.”
I think a lot of women, including myself, can relate to this. How many times have we been expected to be the shadow, the lesser, the extension of a man? How many times have women been expected to elevate the image of men? Thus, I think we should all take it upon ourselves to reject our role as a mere “reflection” of the achievements of men. Instead, we should be mirrors to each other. We should be confident in our beliefs, our interests, our hobbies; so much so that we uplift each other and become a reflection of that confidence in each other.
3. Be Present
“What she loved was here, now, in front of her.”
― Mrs Dalloway
A lot of what Woolf wrote about was inspired by the post-impressionist art movement. This was a movement that honoured the sensations of everyday life instead of attempting to recreate life as realistically as possible. The character of Clarissa Dalloway in Mrs Dalloway (1923) may come off as a ditzy, rich wife of a socialite but, the complexity lies in her celebration of life as it is. She appreciates the sights and sounds of the busy London streets, the idyllic strolls in the park and the interactions with those closest to her. At a time like this, when we are so cut off from human contact, I think we could all do with a little appreciation of the little things around us.
So be present.