www.huffpost.com
Open in
urlscan Pro
151.101.66.114
Public Scan
URL:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/virginia-woolf-feminist_n_6534258
Submission Tags: demotag1 demotag2 Search All
Submission: On July 07 via api from IE — Scanned from DE
Submission Tags: demotag1 demotag2 Search All
Submission: On July 07 via api from IE — Scanned from DE
Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM
<form class="newsletter__input"><input type="email" class="newsletter__input__text" name="email_address" aria-label="Enter your email address" placeholder="address@email.com" value="" aria-describedby="newsletter-error" autocomplete="email"><input
type="submit" class="newsletter__input__submit js-cet-item" aria-label="SIGN UP" value="SIGN UP">
<div id="newsletter-error" class="newsletter__error"></div>
</form>Text Content
Skip to Main Content × MAIN MENU U.S. Edition NEWS U.S. NewsWorld NewsBusinessEnvironmentHealthCoronavirusSocial Justice POLITICS Joe BidenCongressExtremismElections 2022 OPINION ENTERTAINMENT Culture & ArtsMediaCelebrityTV & Film LIFE Style & BeautyFood & DrinkParentingTravelWellnessRelationshipsMoneyHome & LivingWork/LifeShopping VOICES Queer VoicesWomen's VoicesBlack VoicesLatino VoicesAsian Voices SPECIAL PROJECTS Highline HUFFPOST PERSONAL HOROSCOPES FOR OUR PARTNERS Women's Health NEWSLETTERS INTERNATIONAL AustraliaBrazilCanadaEspañaFranceΕλλάδα (Greece)IndiaItalia日本 (Japan)한국 (Korea)QuébecU.K.U.S. FOLLOW US Terms | Privacy Policy Part of HuffPost News. ©2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Log InJoin HuffPost NEWSPOLITICSENTERTAINMENTLIFEPERSONALVOICESSHOPPINGVIDEO U.S. EditionOpen editions submenu × WHAT'S HOT TAYLOR SWIFT CHANGED THE LYRICS TO 'BETTER THEN REVENGE' IOWA TEEN SENTENCED FOR KILLING TEACHER OVER BAD GRADES OUCH! WILD THROW SENDS YANKEE STADIUM CAMERA OPERATOR TO THE HOSPITAL IOWA VOTER SPARS WITH MIKE PENCE OVER JAN. 6: 'DO YOU EVER SECOND GUESS YOURSELF?' GUARDIANS PROSPECT GEORGE VALERA GETS EJECTED IN WILD BENCHES-CLEARING BRAWL COMMON REASONS YOUR PASTA SALAD SUCKS, AND HOW TO FIX IT THE VERY BEST WATER SHOES FOR EVERY KIND OF ACTIVITY 17 NATURAL POOLS AND HOT SPRINGS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT VACATION HOW TO PREVENT SWAMP CROTCH THIS SUMMER, ACCORDING TO MEDICAL EXPERTS WHAT TO DO IF YOU'VE BEEN TOLD YOU CAN'T GET IVF BECAUSE OF YOUR WEIGHT A PROFESSIONAL WAXER SAYS THESE ARE THE ONLY TWEEZERS WORTH BUYING THESE ARE THE INTERNET'S HIGHEST-RATED AC UNITS TO BEAT THE HEAT Booksvirginia woolfFeminism WHY VIRGINIA WOOLF SHOULD BE YOUR FEMINIST ROLE MODEL Why Virginia Woolf Should Be Your Feminist Role Model By Maddie Crum Writer Jan 25, 2015, 10:09 AM EST |Updated Dec 6, 2017 Although Virginia Woolf is now accepted as a major writer and an early feminist, her work wasn't embraced or widely anthologized until nearly 50 years after her novels were published. Though many of her stories don't adhere to the informal strictures of modernism -- she often voiced her distaste for James Joyce and other contemporaries who wrote unabashedly about sexuality -- she's championed today for subtly calling attention to women's issues. In her novels and her many letters to her fellow thinkers in the Bloomsbury group, she artfully made clear many double standards of her day. Here's why, in addition to Roxane Gay, Bey and Lena Dunham, Virginia Woolf should be one of your feminist role models: She was chiefly interested in the inner lives of women. Unlike many of her literary predecessors, Woolf aimed to give credence to the unspoken emotions and interpretations we experience daily. She did this not only by placing more traditionally feminine themes at the forefront of her stories, but by penning sentences with a cadence that revealed the inner workings of her characters’ minds. A New Yorker article calls this, “The tragic lack of correspondence between intention and expression; and what these reveal about the nature of love.” Advertisement While this dissonance isn’t only of interest to women, it’s true that such “small” themes have traditionally been the subject of books by female authors, and have lamentably been shunned by critics for their “smallness.” Woolf, however, was too impressive to be ignored. She lived in a time when she was granted few rights -- but turned the setback into a strength. When her contemporaries were authoring stories about the violent events of World War I, Woolf, who hadn’t the opportunity to fight, instead turned her narrative eye towards its impact on domestic life, and wrote Jacob’s Room, which revealed the more personal impact of grief and trauma. She was criticized by female writers of her ilk, such as Katherine Mansfield, for not addressing war and politics more directly, but continued to do the sort of work she believed in. She was progressive in her feminism, and even made the connection between a patriarchal society and militarism. Remember last week's State of the Union address, when Obama called America's still-lacking equal pay for women exactly what it is: embarrassing? Virginia Woolf wrote about the detriments caused by gender-influenced salaries long before moves were made to change legislation. In A Room of One's Own, she famously explains that without financial freedom, women cannot possess full creative or intellectual freedom. While Woolf's essay directly evaluates the role of education -- which was withheld from many women of her time -- she goes on to equate schooling with income and self-sufficiency. In a later book-length essay, Three Guineas, written on the heels of World War II, she responded to a letter from a man asking how war could be prevented. Woolf used this correspondence not only to call attention to her pacifism, but also to the fact that as a woman her political ideas aren't valued. She wrote, "behind us lies the patriarchal system; the private house, with it nullity, its immorality, its hypocrisy, its servility. Before us lies the public world, the professional system, with its possessiveness, its jealousy, its pugnacity, its greed." Advertisement She believed deeply in the power of the individual. Virginia Woolf's advice on reading may be every high school English teacher's nightmare, but it's hugely empowering nonetheless. She writes, "take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions... After all, what laws can be laid down about books? The battle of Waterloo was certainly fought on a certain day; but is Hamlet a better play than Lear? Nobody can say. Each must decide that question for himself." Asserting that there's no one correct way of interpreting a text may be controversial, but Woolf herself, who never received a university degree, was often forced to challenge conventions in order to succeed. She saw sexuality -- and gender -- as fluid. In a letter written around the same time as Three Guineas, Woolf not only acknowledges that gender-specific traits are socialized, but implies that gendered desires are often a source of violence. Such themes are explored thoroughly in her fiction, including her first novel, A Voyage Out, which mirrors her personal voyage from a more traditional upbringing to the intellectually stimulating Bloomsbury group she became a regular fixture of. She's already been a feminist role model for countless artists and thinkers Including Simone de Beauvoir and Michael Cunningham, to name a few! RELATED booksvirginia woolfFeminism Go To Homepage BEFORE YOU GO 14 BADASS FEMALE AUTHORS See Gallery MADDIE CRUM Writer Suggest a correction POPULAR IN THE COMMUNITY YOU MAY LIKE TRENDING BRITNEY SPEARS TALKS 'TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE' WITH VICTOR WEMBANYAMA'S SECURITY FATHER WHO SURVIVED 9/11 DROWNS WHILE SAVING KIDS IN LAKE MICHIGAN HERE'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE 'TOUCHED OUT' GAVIN NEWSOM ASKS DOJ TO INVESTIGATE RON DESANTIS’ MIGRANT RELOCATION PROGRAM ‘THE NUN 2’ TRAILER UNLOCKS NEW TERRIFYING CHAPTER IN ‘CONJURING’ UNIVERSE Newsletter Sign Up THE MORNING EMAIL Wake up to the day's most important news. Successfully Signed Up! Realness delivered to your inbox By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Close WHAT'S HOT ‘NO REGARD FOR ANYONE’: CHRISTIE SLAMS TRUMP AFTER MAN IS ARRESTED NEAR OBAMA HOME A GOFUNDME RAISED $2,000 TO FIND RUDY FARIAS AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY RETURNED HOME THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE WITH YOUR EX-SPOUSE WHILE DATING OTHER PEOPLE U.S. SET TO DESTROY ITS LAST CHEMICAL WEAPONS MORE IN BOOKS THESE 10 COOKBOOKS WILL HELP YOU BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT THE NDN GIRLS BOOK CLUB WAS BORN FROM THE NEED TO DISRUPT NEW BOOK REVEALS JACKIE KENNEDY ONASSIS' BIG PROBLEM WITH MADONNA STEPHEN KING TAUNTS TED CRUZ WITH A BLAST FROM HIS RECENT PAST ‘FIFTY SHADES OF GREY' AUTHOR ON WHY SO MANY ROMANCE NOVELS DON'T GET WHAT THEY DESERVE TRE'VELL ANDERSON REFUSES TO LET THE OPPRESSOR WRITE THEIR HISTORY CORMAC MCCARTHY, PULITZER-WINNING AUTHOR OF ‘THE ROAD,’ DIES ELIZABETH GILBERT DELAYS PUBLICATION OF NOVEL SET IN RUSSIA AMID BACKLASH NO BAIL FOR UTAH WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HUSBAND, THEN WRITING GRIEF BOOK FOR KIDS HOW A BOOK FROM 1985 UNEXPECTEDLY CHANGED MY VIEW ON MY SEXUALITY JILL DUGGAR PROMISES TO REVEAL FAMILY'S 'SECRETS, MANIPULATION AND INTIMIDATION' IN NEW MEMOIR 14 ‘LITTLE MERMAID’-INSPIRED BOOKS THAT SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR WORLD AUTHOR HANK GREEN REVEALS CANCER DIAGNOSIS IN VLOG ‘LEADING NATIONAL PIPSQUEAK’: JOSH HAWLEY’S ‘MANHOOD’ BOOK GETS VICIOUS REVIEWS THIS THRILLER TELLS THE STORY OF A NIGERWIFE WHOSE PERFECT LIFE IS FALLING APART 'SPARE' GHOSTWRITER RECALLS SCREAMING AT PRINCE HARRY DURING LATE NIGHT ZOOM CALL THE QUEEN OF ROMANCE NOVELS HAS A NEW 'BRIDGERTON' BOOK STEPHEN KING HAS 1 SIMPLE DEMAND FOR LAUREN BOEBERT, MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE OPINION: ATTACKS ON THE NATION’S LIBRARIES ARE ABOUT CLASS AS MUCH AS CENSORSHIP 15 'PETER PAN'-INSPIRED BOOKS THAT EVEN ADULTS WILL ENJOY PELÉ ADDED TO 'BRAZILIAN DICTIONARY AS ADJECTIVE, SYNONYM OF BEST THE U.S. MILITARY PROMISES CITIZENSHIP TO RECRUIT IMMIGRANTS — BUT IT’S NOT THAT SIMPLE JESSICA CHASTAIN REFUSED AN AUTOGRAPH FOR A PRETTY GOOD REASON LISTEN TO MICHELLE OBAMA AND SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE BY AVOIDING THIS BIG MISTAKE THIS MEMOIR SHOWS HOW TO FIND BEAUTY IN DIVORCE MAN WHO THREATENED DICTIONARY PUBLISHER SENTENCED TO A YEAR IN PRISON NEWSPOLITICSENTERTAINMENTLIFEVOICESHUFFPOST PERSONALSHOPPINGNEWSLETTERS About UsAdvertiseContact UsRSSFAQCareersUser AgreementComment PolicyDMCA PolicyHuffPost Press RoomAccessibility StatementPrivacy PolicyConsent PreferencesManage Preferences Part of HuffPost News. ©2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. The Huffington Post WE CARE ABOUT YOUR PRIVACY We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data. WE AND OUR PARTNERS PROCESS DATA TO PROVIDE: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Measure ad performance. Measure content performance. Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. List of Partners (vendors) I Accept Reject All Show Purposes Your Opt Out Preference Signal is Honored ABOUT YOUR PRIVACY We process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent and legitimate interest. You may exercise your right to consent or object to a legitimate interest, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose. These choices will be signaled to our vendors participating in the Transparency and Consent Framework. More information Allow All MANAGE CONSENT PREFERENCES STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES Always Active These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. * PERFORMANCE COOKIES Always Active These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. * FUNCTIONAL COOKIES Always Active These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly. TARGETING COOKIES Targeting Cookies These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. STORE AND/OR ACCESS INFORMATION ON A DEVICE Store and/or access information on a device Cookies, device identifiers, or other information can be stored or accessed on your device for the purposes presented to you. List of IAB Vendors | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab MEASURE AD PERFORMANCE Measure ad performance The performance and effectiveness of ads that you see or interact with can be measured. Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection List of IAB Vendors | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab MEASURE CONTENT PERFORMANCE Measure content performance The performance and effectiveness of content that you see or interact with can be measured. Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection List of IAB Vendors | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab PERSONALISED ADS AND CONTENT, AD AND CONTENT MEASUREMENT, AUDIENCE INSIGHTS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development * SELECT BASIC ADS Switch Label Ads can be shown to you based on the content you’re viewing, the app you’re using, your approximate location, or your device type. Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection * CREATE A PERSONALISED ADS PROFILE Switch Label A profile can be built about you and your interests to show you personalised ads that are relevant to you. Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection * SELECT PERSONALISED ADS Switch Label Personalised ads can be shown to you based on a profile about you. Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection * CREATE A PERSONALISED CONTENT PROFILE Switch Label A profile can be built about you and your interests to show you personalised content that is relevant to you. Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection * SELECT PERSONALISED CONTENT Switch Label Personalised content can be shown to you based on a profile about you. Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection * APPLY MARKET RESEARCH TO GENERATE AUDIENCE INSIGHTS Switch Label Market research can be used to learn more about the audiences who visit sites/apps and view ads. Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection * DEVELOP AND IMPROVE PRODUCTS Switch Label Your data can be used to improve existing systems and software, and to develop new products Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection List of IAB Vendors | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab ACTIVELY SCAN DEVICE CHARACTERISTICS FOR IDENTIFICATION Actively scan device characteristics for identification Your device can be identified based on a scan of your device's unique combination of characteristics. List of IAB Vendors | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab ENSURE SECURITY, PREVENT FRAUD, AND DEBUG Always Active Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent fraudulent activity, and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. List of IAB Vendors | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab TECHNICALLY DELIVER ADS OR CONTENT Always Active Your device can receive and send information that allows you to see and interact with ads and content. List of IAB Vendors | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab Back Button COOKIE LIST Search Icon Filter Icon Clear checkbox label label Apply Cancel Consent Leg.Interest checkbox label label checkbox label label checkbox label label Reject All Confirm My Choices