The idea behind Virginia Woolf’s book “A Room of One’s Own” is simple. Women need a room of their own to create and fully develop as individuals.
Historically, women have been restricted the access to a physical and mental space (and time) alone, that they could use merely to think or pursue intellectual endeavours, being pushed instead to marital and domestic obligations imposed upon them.
In the book, she also points out the fact that most women were denied education and financial resources, which hindered their ability to produce intellectual work and that’s why she defends that financial independence is vital to women, so that they can afford this space themselves.
It is no surprise that this book resonated strongly with me. Being an only child, I always had the luxury of having a room of my own, where I played extensively and was able to grant myself a mental and spiritual space of growth, refuge and experimentation. Over the years, this room has transformed itself into a home studio, an office, a small living room where I can write, think and exist.
A pact with oneself
Many years ago, I made a sort of silent pact with myself that I would foster and preserve this time and space I have to my intellect and creativity, come what may.
I find it disappointing sometimes that I don’t have many great examples of truly independent women around me. Women who, despite being mothers, nourish themselves as individuals. Women who question the “status-quo”, women who notice, who know they don’t have to be the object but can be the observer, women who know that they can lead extraordinary lives…
But it is what it is, and I trust that, by example, I will eventually attract more of these women.
Sticking with it
In today’s world, having a room of one’s own means essentially reinforcing this commitment to ourselves. Other commitments such as marriage or children, perhaps domestic tasks that still fall more upon the shoulders of women, due to many complex factors, can be a test to this pact. But we must take responsibility, learn to establish boundaries and honor ourselves.
Because it would truly be a shame to silence out another voice, to waste another intellect, to forsake another creative spirit.
If they wish to be seen and heard, of course.