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pastelkerstin's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
Virginia, I love you
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
tinyjude's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Some points were interesting and relevant even today, but others... were rather not it. It is very clear she is writing from a privileged and white position, so bear that in mind
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Classism
jenniferpalmblad's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Classism
feliz_in_a_bucket's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Beautifully written, fascinating exploration of the effect the patriarcy had and has on womens ability to write and the way they wrote. Was pleasantly surprised of the simiarities the writing style had to that of Woolfs 'The Waves' - writing in a sort of stream of conciousness that picks up the same themes and ideas over and over again. The ideas expressed in the book are ones still very much related to feminist discussions today. Definitely worth a read. However an unfortunate reminder of the time the book was written and the fact that (as the premisse of the book also suggests) Woolf was not among the least priveledged at that time - comes in the form of offensive slurs used a few times thought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
utuisuus's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
okahli's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
paigieodo's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.0
If read keeping the time period in mind, this essay provides a very valuable reflection of the perpetuity of the poverty of women. Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style makes for a less academic read and allows the reader to connect more to her ideas. More often than I anticipated, I found myself getting emotional at her observations. She makes statements about womanhood and quiet oppressions that are well-understood today, but in the essay's historical context, are revelatory. Even in the feminist political landscape of today, many of the issues Woolf discusses that condemn women (and by extension, other disenfranchised peoples) to poverty are not often challenged or explored; for example, the titular "room of one's own" refers to a woman's lack of privacy, lack of freedom, and lack of opportunity to escape the financial control of men. Anyone would struggle to create great works without these privileges, hence why women do not have a stronghold in many realms of society, including politics and art. Despite being published in 1928, it can, in this way, be understood as relevant to modern society — those who are vulnerable to financial codependence or relegated to service roles in society have little means to create. This does not mean they are less valuable, but simply that we do not provide them with the necessary space to forge things. Woolf's essay is worth a read by any critical eye. Note in tags: minor racism.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism