Diana - Woolf Ch 5 & 6

I must say, I look askance at one of the premises in the last two chapters of “A Room of One’s Own.” As a woman who had no children of her own, Woolf’s idea that a woman’s life is worth nothing because she has raised children shows that she knows not of what she speaks. She refers more than once to the idea of motherhood impoverishing women’s feelings of contentment. “And if one asked her, … she would look vague and say that she could remember nothing. For all the dinners are cooked; the plates and cups washed; the children sent to school and gone out into the world. Nothing remains of it all. All has vanished.” (p. 88)

Later, she says, “May I also remind you that most of the professions have been open to you for close on ten years now?” (p. 111) Her implication is that only employment gives women’s lives worth.

I realize Woolf was an ardent feminist, and as such, she and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum. However, I believe I am more tenable to her argument than she would be to mine, were she still alive. For while I firmly believe that no one can raise children with as much love and attention as their own mother can, I also believe women’s lives consist of seasons. I fully advocate any woman attaining an education and entering the workforce when her season of child rearing is ending, if it’s possible for her to wait. Spending time with your own children cannot be postponed, for they grow up all too quickly, but education and jobs will always be available. However, I also understand that some women must work and some women want to work while their children are young, and I leave that decision to them.

It seems to me that Woolf advocated gaining self-worth through attaining an education and entering the workforce at all costs. She reinforces her selfish argument by saying, “…I am asking you to live in the presence of reality, an invigorating life, it would appear, whether one can impart it or not. … When I rummage in my own mind I find no noble sentiments about being companions and equals and influencing the world to higher ends. I find myself saying briefly and prosaically that it is much more important to be oneself than anything else. Do not dream of influencing other people, … Think of things in themselves.” (p. 109)

It is interesting to note that Woolf does here what many mothers do: she tries to coax her listeners (children) to fulfill her own unmet desires for accomplishment. Sadly, perhaps her lack of interest in “influencing the world to higher ends” contributed to her own lack of self-worth, as evidenced by her suicide.