(no subject)
Tonight I was sitting in my Short Story class when I realized the presumption of homosexuality that seems to always be assumed with single female writers in older literature. Why is this assumption so popular? Why does everyone always assume this? You dont see this trend half as much with single male writers. But what started this whole train of thought was when we were looking at biographical information on Willa Cather, which she could very well have been a lesbian I dont know. But it made me realize that almost everytime a woman writer was brought up she was automatically a lesbian. But Willa for example. Some of the evidence they had against her was that she at times dressed like a man, cut her hair short and was sometimes referred to by "Willy" or "Billy". But if you look at other evidence of her life in my opinion kind of explains some of this behavior. Willa had always wanted to be a doctor, that was her dream profession. But due to time she lived, women werent permited to do so. She was being confined for being a woman, therefore its almost understandable that she would be keen to the male traits. Also she had 2 marriage proposals, which even then i dont think a man would propose with out at least the slightest hint of suggestion. She did live with a woman for many many years, but even there at that time still it was almost inappropriate for a woman to live by herself and it would have been scandalous for a single woman to live with a man. I mean she could very well have been a lesbian for all I know. But judging from the little bit of evidence we seem to have been given you is to judge.
But it just seems that if a woman chose not to marry they assumed something else had to be going on. A woman really didnt have many choices in life. They could marry, clean house, and have babies. but if that was the life a woman chose she didnt have any time what so ever to write. So a woman who was passionate about writing and not having the time to do so would be absolutely miserable in marriage. The choice was then presented. To close yourself off in a bottle of misery or to allow yourself the freedom of expression and life. It doesnt seem like a hard choice to make.
I think i could go on and on this topic, but at the moment I lack research and references. But it was just a thought that ran through my mind this evening and I found it to be interesting.
But it just seems that if a woman chose not to marry they assumed something else had to be going on. A woman really didnt have many choices in life. They could marry, clean house, and have babies. but if that was the life a woman chose she didnt have any time what so ever to write. So a woman who was passionate about writing and not having the time to do so would be absolutely miserable in marriage. The choice was then presented. To close yourself off in a bottle of misery or to allow yourself the freedom of expression and life. It doesnt seem like a hard choice to make.
I think i could go on and on this topic, but at the moment I lack research and references. But it was just a thought that ran through my mind this evening and I found it to be interesting.