Posted: February 5th, 2024

Gender Discrimination and Racism in the Works of Virginia Woolf and Brent Staples

Gender Discrimination and Racism in the Works of Virginia Woolf and Brent Staples

Virginia Woolf and Brent Staples are two writers who have explored the themes of gender discrimination and racism in their works. Woolf, a prominent figure of the modernist movement, challenged the patriarchal norms and expectations that limited women’s opportunities and expression in the early twentieth century. Staples, a contemporary journalist and essayist, reflected on his experiences as a black man in America, facing stereotypes and prejudices that threatened his safety and dignity. Both writers used their craft to expose the social injustices and inequalities that affected them and their communities, and to call for change and recognition.

Woolf’s Professions for Women (1931) is a speech that she delivered to the Women’s Service League, in which she discussed the difficulties and obstacles that women faced in pursuing a career as writers. She argued that women had to overcome not only the material and economic disadvantages, but also the psychological and cultural barriers that were imposed on them by a male-dominated society. She coined the term “the Angel in the House” to refer to the idealized image of a woman as a selfless, submissive, domestic creature, who devoted herself to pleasing her husband and children. Woolf claimed that this angel haunted her as a writer, preventing her from expressing her true thoughts and feelings, and that she had to “kill” her in order to achieve her artistic freedom. She also acknowledged that there were other “phantoms” that haunted women writers, such as the fear of criticism, ridicule, or censure from the male authorities. She urged women to overcome these phantoms and to write honestly and boldly, without being constrained by the expectations of others.

Staples’s Black Men and Public Space (1986) is an essay that he published in Ms. Magazine, in which he recounted his encounters with white people who perceived him as a threat or a criminal because of his race and appearance. He described how he often had to alter his behavior or appearance to avoid scaring or provoking others, such as whistling classical music, crossing the street, or wearing casual clothes. He also shared some anecdotes that illustrated the absurdity and danger of racial profiling, such as being mistaken for a burglar by his own colleagues, or being followed by a police car for no reason. He lamented that he was “surrounded by anxious white people” who judged him by his skin color rather than his character or achievements. He concluded that he was “a victim of violence” inflicted by the society that denied him his individuality and humanity.

Both Woolf and Staples used their personal experiences and observations to highlight the systemic oppression and discrimination that they faced as women and as black men respectively. They also showed how these forms of injustice affected their sense of identity and self-worth, as well as their opportunities and choices in life. They challenged the dominant narratives and stereotypes that devalued and marginalized them, and asserted their voices and visions as writers. Their works are powerful testimonies of their struggles and aspirations, as well as their contributions to the literary and social movements of their times.

References:

– Woolf, V. (1931). Professions for Women. In The Death of the Moth and Other Essays (pp. 149-154). London: Hogarth Press.
– Staples, B. (1986). Black Men and Public Space. Ms., 16(2), 98-101.
– Studocu.com (n.d.). Gender Discrimination And Racism In The Works Of Virginia Woolf And Brent Staples – Throughout – Studocu. Retrieved from https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/kingsborough-community-college/sociology-of-gender/gender-discrimination-and-racism-in-the-works-of-virginia-woolf-and-brent-staples/47358946
– Edubirdie.com (n.d.). Gender Discrimination And Racism In The Works Of Virginia Woolf And Brent Staples – Free Essay Example – Edubirdie Essay Service. Retrieved from https://edubirdie.com/examples/gender-discrimination-and-racism-in-the-works-of-virginia-woolf-and-brent-staples/

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