A Room of One's Own

Women’s lives were made less accessible to writing because of the requirements on women. Women were the wives, cooks, cleaners and employees. Women were responsible for bearing and raising the children and because of this they were at a disadvant

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Can society not encourage those who want to mother and nurture to do so while also encouraging men and fathers to nurture as well? I think that in many cases we are seeing more men take responsibility in fathering so as to encourage and promote women the opportunities and time to further themselves, be it through writing or dance. The written word has, however, molded and sculpted today’s society so particular emphasis is placed on writings since the inclusion of women’s voice in history means that, “the adult white male can no longer be taken to represent all of humanity nor the adult white male experience to encompass all that is important to human life. “She is defined and differentiated with reference to man and not he with reference to her,’ Beauvoir writes. ” (Woolf, 22) And so Woolf highlights just one aspect of women’s lives here, demonstrating the amount of time and energy that women spend on mothering letting the husbands and fathers read, write and learn. Still, I remember reading a top 100 list marking the ‘best’ literature pieces of the twentieth century with only eight female authors. Woolf wants to write at the level and greatness as men and makes clear that writing about mothering is not an acceptable subject.

Simone de Beauvoir would agree with Woolf and in actuality did have a room of her own. She was an adamant fighter of women’s issues, “increased mother’s pensions, more help for unemployed women, prison reforms and home for delinquent girls.

It must also be pointed out that not all women can afford the luxury of having the money, time and space to themselves to write. Bykeeping women in the home with children kept men in power and control. Yes, women still need their own space but does this have to be a room or can it be a spot under the tree in a park or a favorite section in the library? Women need the opportunity of having privacy and space to themselves and also the prospect to meet with others to discuss and challenge one another. “To earn money was impossible for them, and in the second, had it been possible, the law denied them the right to posses what money they earned.

It is important to note Woolf is making this argument for women writers specifically but her case is applicable to any area of human culture, be it philosophy, dance, science or music.

Common topics in this essay:
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Approximate Word count = 1364
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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