Theme Of Sexism In Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf was well known for her brilliant writing and staunch feminist ideology. Visiting two gender-specific colleges, she wrote of her vastly different experienced she had in such places. The blatant inequality the women face is merely one example in an ocean of sexism and misogyny that runs rampant through our world. The two passages describe the intolerable discrepancies between the meals. By utilizing a highly contrasting tone in the juxtaposed writing she makes clear her opinions on this slight against women. Furthermore, her eloquent and pompous wording in the first passage is particularly significant when compared to the almost apathetic language used in the second. In essence, Woolf wrote these separate pieces with the intent …show more content…
The women’s meal is not described with anything but perhaps helpless acceptance. Woolf does not once become visibly enraged at the substandard food she is given, nor is there any mention of the other women being anything less than grateful. It is even mentioned that there is “no room for complaint” for “supply was sufficient and coal miners doubtless were sitting down to less.” This feeds nicely into the idea that this is the type of attitude the world forces women to adapt. Women are supposed to be meek and mild things that are grateful for what they are given and never once meant to complain if things are not adequately provided. Society expected women not to speak loudly, keep themselves to themselves, keep their heads down and still expects the same to this day. Likewise, the passage focusing on the men’s eating experience also illustrates what effect society has on men. The food they are given is served to them from the very best “silent serving-man”. The serving man is a metaphor for Woolf’s entirely warranted belief that men are handed their privilege on a silver platter. They are not made to work any harder for their privilege. It is apparently their God-given right. In fact, these men are so pampered and feel themselves so entitled that they are undoubtedly “all going to heaven”. From Woolf’s background and underlying tone, we can infer that these antiquated gender roles obviously infuriate her. It is not simply a gap that separates women and men in society, but a monumental chasm spanning centuries in time, and miles in