Book Quote by Virginia Woolf
““And since a novel has this correspondence to real life, its values are to some extent those of real life. But it is obvious that the values of women differ very often from the values which have been made by the other sex; naturally this is so. Yet is it the masculine values that prevail. Speaking crudely, football and sport are "important"; the worship of fashion, the buying of clothes "trivial." And these values are inevitably transferred from life to fiction. This is an important book, the critic assumes, because it deals with war. This is an insignificant book because it deals with the feelings of women in a drawing-room.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Role of the Novelist," 1925
She argues that literature reflects societal gender values, often favoring masculine perspectives and marginalizing women's experiences.
In simple terms: Books mirror the gender biases of their time.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gender bias in storytelling.
Themes
gender
literature
bias
representation
Mood
critical
analytical
thought‑provoking
Type
literary
social‑commentary
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- academic curricula
- media analysis
- creative writing workshops
Key Concepts
feminist critique
cultural reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers amplify diverse female voices?
- What responsibilities do authors have to counter bias?
A Different Perspective
May generalize all women’s experiences as monolithic.
