Author Archives: Shatoya

Midterm prep

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“Her purity was supposed to be her chief beauty–her blushes, her great grace. In those days–the last of Queen Victoria–every house had its Angel. And when I came to write I encountered her with the very first words. The shadow of her wings fell on my page; I heard the rustling of her skirts in the room. Directly, that is to say, I took my pen in my hand to review that novel by a famous man, she slipped behind me and whispered: “My dear, you are a young woman. You are writing about a book that has been written by a man. Be sympathetic; be tender; flatter; deceive; use all the arts and wiles of our sex. Never let anybody guess that you have a mind of your own. Above all, be pure.”

1. Professions for Women

2. Virginia Wolf

3. In this passage the beauty and pure ness of the angel is being explained. The angel to me is a metaphor for what women writers are expected to portray , if not outwardly at least consciously. The writer Is being manipulated by that “angel” in the room to deceive others through  her writing. If the writer listens to the angel she will not give readers the impression of her real writing style , but they will be exposed to an accepted but fabricated version of the writers work. It is definitely a contradiction for the angel to ask her to be all the things she is not, but to still be pure.

4.This passage connects to larger issues in the text because, to me it brings my attention to the fact that in any profession for women, especially writing, females have a set standard for which they are expected to look, live and behave by. This set standard really puts strain on women to alter their work, and or looks. The symbolism of the angel in the room represents the ideal woman who lives up to everyone else’s expectations. In life today it is even so. The advantage of having your own mins is conflicted by the opinions if others. This passage sheds a little light on the controversies involved with professions for women.

 

Feminist Manifesto

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Justification

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Wolf
I was inspired to think about how a feminist in society would respond to the male dominance presented in Room of One’s Own by Virginia Wolf. Chapter three helped me to understand why women are continuously fighting for equality. Stemming from history women are being held to the highest of standards yet treated as the lesser. In the early nineteenth century women were frowned upon for expressing herself through art. The production of women’s art cannot be controlled.
Women are slowly progressing in the area of social independence and gaining respect for their artistic abilities in the twenty first century. In the early nineteenth century women were not respected for their art. “It is fairly evident that even in the nineteenth century a woman was nit encouraged to be an artist” (246) ,says Virginia Wolf . This statement provokes me to wonder how long were women oppressed.
Mrs. Wolf argues about that rooted desire to defeat inferiority. That drive for women to be respected with unbiased opinions and without predetermined roles in life is relevant today. We have the gender gap for example. Women are still being paid less than men to perform identical job duties. In 2010 the median income for men was $42,800 compared to $34,700for women.(Wikipedia.org/male-female income) yet we are still expected to exist happily and cooperatively in a world with a double standard.

“On the contrary, she was snubbed, slapped, lectured and exhorted. Her mind must have been strained and her vitality lowered by the need of opposing this, of disproving that”( 246.) . In my mind this unfolds as men and society enslaving mentally first by brainwashing them. How can one find time to create art, when she is busy submitting to taught standards? One is never to know about the creations which have been perfected in women’s art, thus she will be disrespected, and belittled.
” Even Lady Bessborough, I remembered, with all her passion for politics, must humbly bow herself and write to Lord Granville Leveson-Gower: ‘ . . . notwithstanding all my violence in politicks and talking so much on that subject, I perfectly agree with you that no woman has any business to meddle with that or any other serious business, farther than giving her opinion (if she is ask’d).’ And so she goes on to spend her enthusiasm where it meets with no obstacle whatsoever, upon that immensely important subject, Lord Granville’s maiden speech in the House of Commons.” (246.) It was common of women to accept the disaffirmation of the notion that her art is just as irrelevant as her voice in the early nineteenth century. It was their truth to be inferior and this seemed to be committed to their memory and provoking behavior influenced by fear. Even women whose influence was thought to be heeded to, such as Lady Bessborough would reluctantly defer being defeated by the control of men. Ms. Bessborough as an example was for all women of the nineteenth century to accept the superiority of men. This was to be accepted in all areas ranging from art to politics.
To be stripped of your vibrancies and disregarded in your opinion was punishment for rebelling against standards set for women. Though a contradiction to the progression of women in the early nineteenth century  a female would be shunned for the thought of expressing herself freely. Those rights will not be liberated for years to come.
Despite slow progress the evolution of women in power is on the rise. The pursuit for respect and equality is drawing more and more attention to itself. “The history of men’s opposition to woman’s emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of emancipation itself.” It is the favored perception is that men are the headliners. Truth is without women’s  quest for freedom of expression, equality, and recognition there would be no opposition, therefore no story. Women’s art is the story of emancipation.

 

Manifesto

 

This is the time! We women are claiming our position and our independence – in deciding how to express ourselves
We deserve Respect
Respect In art , and not only respect as an artist who is analyzing her world with a gifted and unique vision , But as a business woman, an inventor or politician if she chooses to be

You have that correct, it is a Choice for a woman to choose her path In life and not be denied the right to explore her options and in doing so realizing what is best for her

Women will not be weakened and left powerless without even the liberty of self-expression
We should never be limited to a set and widely accepted standard of living due to the fear of man
Why would you , Man , think that it was acceptable for we, women to function and cooperate with ultimatums that decrease our worth

We are worth high power decisions, Worth more than the eye can meet
Equality is the only satisfaction that is acceptable to women
We shall not be dominated by masculinity, and live in a mental cave, where we are minute
Men are embracing the idea and showing regard that we – Us – women, are the backbone that hold the family together and well prepared to be an artist
Women’s declaration will be embraced by men , women and children, old, and young  for all to gain their own understanding without biased restraint.

 

References :

1. A Room of One’s Own by. Virginia Wolf

2. Wikipedia .org/male-female _income

3.merriamwebster.com

 

Avaricious

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This is passage is from Quicksand

“He hoped, he sincerely hoped, that they wouldn’t become avaricious and grasping, thinking only of adding to their earthly goods, for that would be a sin in the sight of Almighty God. And then he had spoken of contentment embellishing his words with scriptural quotations and pointing out to them that it was their duty to be satisfied in the estate to which they had been called  hewers of  wood and drawers of water. “(6)

Avaracious – adjective

Avaracious- Greedy of gain: excessively acquisitive especially in seeking to hoard riches.

Http:// www.merriam-webster.com

My understanding of this passage is that he wanted to stay focused on righteousness. He wanted to remain Holy and stay within the word of God. The ways if the world are greed and his aspirations were that he would not be taken over by seeking to hoard earthly riches, but to inherit those riches In heaven. His message was that they shall all be grateful for what hey have been blessed with.

 

 

What will Helga turn out to be?

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Reading the beginning of Quicksand by Nella Larsen left me really interested In the book. I feel that as the main character,  Helga’s character was developing all throughout the story. From the beginning its seems like there is a fighting force that Helga Crane is battling with. Naxo’s ,where she  lives and teaches at that time just seemed to be a place that she felt she didn’t belong. I feel that because of the constant  rebelliousness and differentiating herself from the other characters in the story that Helga’s character was constantly developing. The mere fact that in narration she was unique assisted in the evolution of Helga’s character.

“Helga’s essentially likeable and charming personality was smudged out. She had felt this for a long time. Now she faced with determination that other truth, which she had refused to formulate in her thoughts, the fact that she was utterly unfitted for teaching, even for mere existence in Naxos. She was a failure here. She had, she conceded now, been silly, obstinate , to persist for so long. A failure. Therefore, no need, no use to stay longer. Suddenly she longed for immediate departure.”(12)

This passage  from chapter one of Quicksand is already helping me to understand how Helga’s character is being shaped. It is apparent that at one point Helga was a sweeter person than she is growing to be in Naxos. Somehow Naxos was tainting her opinion of her belonging and acceptance there. I feel that at this early point In the story Helga was already developing a sense of self, different from the person who had originally came. I began to think that Helga’s thoughts of her purpose was even beginning to change. Somewhere where she thought would be of longevity had been turning out to be temporary, and her quest was far from over but just beginning. If her  career in teaching  was all of a sudden wrong , her thoughts about her environment were changing, and she felt that she had come  to Naxos and did not accomplish what was set out , but was already prepared to depart , then it is clear to me that Helga’s character would be developing into something different, maybe greater.

 

 

Accoutrement

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Accoutrement

Noun

Definition – An accessory item of clothing or equipment , usually used in plural

www.webstermerriam.com

” No, No if this is what you made for that singer. It is what I want , alright Im coming out. Oh God , I look ridiculous, and I’m behaving absolutely foolishly, but I am not sure what else to do. Look at me I have spent a fortune of feathers and every manner of accoutrement. They have mentioned absolutely splendid things about me in the columns”

Mrs. Van Buren was second guessing her decision on what to wear. This outfit seemed to be important to her. I feel that she thought her behavior was affected by the way that she was dressed. So that Mrs. Van Buren felt more comfortable in her Lingerie, she dressed it up with feathers and other accessories. Though this was not the outfit that she preferred, Mrs. Van Buren knew that this would get her the attention that she wanted.

Now and Then

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I actually enjoyed reading Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage. This play makes me think that life and relationships are not much different now than they were in the early1900’s. Esther who was a seamstress for Upper and Lower Manhattans women who lived in the night life puts me in the mind of the independent women in today’s society . Esther needed a stepping stone on the way to pursuing her long term goal to open a beauty Salon, but was sidetracked In the interim. Nottage to me depicts an old time picture from a new story told time and time again. it seems to me that men were sexist in those days as we see some men to be nowadays. One thing that will remain the same is a woman’s sensitive  side and ability to love . Based on some of the conversations In the play, women then did not know their worth. Esther was told that her face didn’t matter but that men were only interested in her body. It is interesting to me that despite the struggles of African Americans at that time, dreams are real. It was very easy for Esther to deny herself the opportunity of accomplishing her dreams , due to her being blinded by love.  Intimate apparel differs from the world today in several ways. Although illiteracy still exist it is more rampant n 1905 which this play was based in. Education and resources are more available in today’s society. Women in today’s society are respected more for their independence although we are still fighting the battle for equality.

This play had several different issues which made it a little difficult to channel in in one of them. There were issues of self esteem, racial issues, class issues, and issues of the struggling African American woman. I would say that reading it as a play made it a little more difficult for me to understand at first because it was outside of the normal story which is narrated.

Valuation

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Valuation – noun

“The women who adopt themselves to a theoretical valuation of their sex as a relative impersonality are not yet feminine”

webster Merriam –

valuation – estimated or determined market value of a thing.;

valuation – judgement or appreciation of worth or character

this passage is expressing that Woman who believes what she is taught about her value is not yet in touch with herself. Women’s opinions of their worth are prejudged by others and adopted by us. Until we know our own worth we will answer to anything.

Double Standards

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Manifesto  is a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives or views if the issuer ( Webster Merriam.com)

If I had to write a a Manifesto about women there would be a broad range of subjects to choose from, but the one that comes to mind first is that age old double standard.

Women have always been held to a different standard than men. For years us women have had to deal with being treated unfairly. We make less money on the job than a man who is doing the same exact job. Money however is not the only thing that women fight for in the work place. Females also fight for respect in the business world. it is assumed that a pretty face, and all the other attributes of woman are a sign of weakness. I think that would be a great argument to base my manifesto on. Though discrimination at the workplace is a great topic for a manifesto, I think my statement would focus on the broader areas of the double standard. Women are expected to appear a certain way In the public eye,and are upheld to certain behavior that society just does not expect men to uphold. For example, a woman who has slept with numerous guys is said to be “promiscuous” , and on the other hand a man who sleeps around with different women is called a “player”. Is it only genetics that make the difference or is it just as simple as the majority opinion rules.

Mina Loy mentioned in Manifesto, ” be brave and deny the outset, that pathetic, flap , trap war cry , women us the equal to man- for she is not. ” That statement is very supportive to the argument of the double standard between men and women. I think for my manifesto I would bring firth issues which support the fact that men and women are not equal.

Queer

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Queer- adj

Definition- beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

reference the dictionary app

“A very  queer , composite being thus emerges ”

A Room of Ones Own, chapter 3 first sentence

I am understanding that the being which was emerging was a unique individual. This person was not average nor ordinary, and was developing from something to be known as lesser.

 

What was imagined

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This passage is from A Room of Ones Own Chapter 3 In the 5th paragraph. The paragraph began with ” A very queer, composite being thus emerges” .  Virginia Woolf then goes on to say “Imaginatively she is of the highest importance; practically she is completely insignificant. She pervades poetry from cover to cover; she is all but absent from history. She dominates the lives of kings and conquerors in fiction; in fact she was the slave of any boy whose parents forced a ring upon her finger” . My understanding of A Room of ones own so far is that the author is speaking to the injustices which were being done to women in those times. 

“imaginatively she is of the highest importance”

this statement helps helps me to understand that In those times In order for a woman to be of importance she could only have imagined it. I however do respect the fact that although women were not treated with the respect that they were deserving of , there was still an idea in their minds that they should be accepted and respected. “Practically she is completely insignificant “. In fact that statement confirms the thought that women were said to be of little or no relevance in those times. Though this passage is in reference to writing it signifies the notion that women were not recognized for their literary work, or looked at as intellectual beings. In the rest of the passage it mentions  her being present In history, dominating and conquering through her poetry. Women in those times could have absolutely been more intelligent than they were given credit for. Women were actually very significant , but treated in a way which made them unaware of their worth. This passage for me ties itself into the entire reading because it helps me to visualize the ongoing battle in which women fight with society.