20th Annual Student Research Conference
Interdisciplinary
Women of the Bloomsbury Group: The Influence of Gender Upon Their Lives and Art
Victoria N. Weaver
Dr. Patricia Gately, Faculty Mentor
The women of the Bloomsbury group, Vanessa Bell, Vita Sackville-West, Virginia Woolf, and Dora Carrington constructed their identities under the pressing social restraints of early 20th century Britain. Even though by this time many of the political and educational barriers which affected women in the workforce had been breeched, the social discrepancies between the sexes were only beginning to shift towards equality. In response to this discrimination, each dealt with the issue by either addressing the struggle within their work, escaping into fantasy, rejecting their femininity, finding possibility in individualism, or by looking to their mothers or mother-figures for stability and resolve. Although each had differing views on the feminine role, the influence of gender considerably affected their creative works, and is a significant factor in how these women viewed their personal and professional lives in comparison to other women as well as men.
Keywords: Bloomsbury Group, Gender, Women's Literature, Women's Art, British Art, British Literature
Topic(s):Interdisciplinary
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 55-2
Location: VH 1408
Time: 3:00 pm