A Room of One’s Own examines the relationship between literature and women, and provides advice for aspiring female writers. Virginia Woolf says that fiction writers need money and space to work. Woolf’s opinion is based on the social, educational and financial disadvantages that affect women who are aspiring to a career in the future. Woolf calls for women to have the financial and living space that they desire in order to fulfill their literary potential. Woolf feels that having this binary in literature is harmful to the overall quality of literature. She says that writing about sex is fatal. Virginia Woolf points out that the gender binary system in literature is the main reason there is not enough success for female authors. She believes that eliminating this oppressive construct would make literature more valuable and let us judge it by its quality instead of through the lens of our gender.
Virginia Woolf considers that women are less likely to write quality literature if they have a gender construct than if they lack the skill. Both men and women can create great literature. However, they have different opportunities and circumstances. Woolf’s argument begins by pointing out inequalities in education. Woolf stated that if women were financially able, they would be able earn more money to spend on education. Women are often left behind in literature and other areas due to this gender-based disparity in educational opportunities. Woolf poses the question: “What would’ve happened if Shakespeare’s brilliantly gifted sister, Judith,” (46). Woolf offers this possibility to demonstrate the equal potential for masculine and feminine authors. She describes the sibling hypothetical as “gifted”, as “just so adventurous, imaginative, [and] agog to view the world as much as he is” (47). Woolf identifies only one difference between them: their gender. Woolf used this example to emphasize the fact that the problem of female authors not being published is not due simply to a lack in skill but because of gender discrimination. Later she describes Currer Eliot, George Eliot, George Sand’s careers as female writers who published literature under male pseudonyms. She described them later as “victims to inner strife” (50). These writers produced highly acclaimed works of literature that proved women can write fiction. Woolf’s examples showing women writing under masculine pseudonyms show the inability to discern the difference in quality between male and feminine writing. These women would not have published the same works if they had been published under their real names. Woolf recognized that the gender binary system has been the root cause of the low number of women writing literature. Woolf cites Samuel Coleridge’s belief in an androgynous mind (98). Woolf asserts that a mind purely masculine is incapable of creating, much like a feminine mind (98). A mind that is only concerned with fulfilling the gender expectations will not be able to fully utilize its potential. This reality is detrimental to literature, as it results in lower quality work for both men and woman. Writing that doesn’t consider gender is a better way to produce works. Virginia Woolf refers to William Shakespeare as an example by calling his mind “androgynous,” and “manly” (99). He was able to use his entire mind to write rather than only focusing on the male characteristics. Woolf states that writing can be improved by blending different traits, no matter where they fall on the gender spectrum. To produce high-quality work, a writer must “use both his brain and his hands equally,” she says (103). Woolf praises Jane Austen (William Shakespeare) and William Shakespeare (68) for being able to keep their identities separate from their writing. She claims that Austen’s “writing without hatred, bitterness, fear, protest, and [and] not preaching” made her produce better quality work (68). Woolf believes that an author should focus on her characters and not personal circumstances like their gender or sex (70). Writing without considering one’s gender is a better way to create well-rounded, high-quality literature.
Woolf advocates the elimination of gender binary systems from literature. She disapproves of divisive, gender-influenced writing styles which only serve to reinforce the division. She refers to descriptions of women made by male scholars and writers, noting “they were written in red light of emotion and no white light of reality” (32-33) Woolf believes that gender binary systems are divisive, fostering hostility between different groups. She feels that blaming the opposite group causes literature to reflect emotion and not reality. She says that it is absurd for anyone to put blame on any class, any sex, or the whole of society (38). Woolf believes that the hostility in literature is shared by both genders, although she does not agree with this view. Woolf considers writing in a way that places anger or blame on any gender as irrational. This is because the opinions that guide this style “are driven instinctively which are not in their control” (38). Woolf supports this idea by asking Woolf why Mary Carmichael, a female author, was able produce literature despite being a “genius”. She concludes that Carmichael is no longer “the opposing faction” and that her success stems from this fact (92). Carmichael was able to stop fighting between the genders and spend more time focusing on literary elements like plot and character. This example is used by Woolf to show the potential of eliminating the gendered approach in literature. Carmichael’s decision to give up on his opposition to man is described by Woolf’s as liberating. It also allows for wider topic matter, which she believes will make the work more interesting.
Virginia Woolf’s novel A Room of One’s One focuses on the difficulties faced by women writers, and the blame is placed on the gender binary. Woolf calls on the removal of gender stereotypes, particularly within literature. This would result in better writing and a reduction of expectations. Authors will be judged on the quality of their writing, not their gender. A Room of One’s Own focuses on the success of authors who are genderless and encourages writers of all sexual or gendered identities not to be distracted by the social constructs that promote disadvantage and division.
