Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own is a powerful feminist text that argues for the need for financial stability and a private space—a “room of one’s own”—to enable women to pursue intellectual and creative freedom. Woolf challenges us to rethink the barriers that have historically kept women from thriving creatively. But what happens when we view her arguments through the lens of women with disabilities?
For women with disabilities, the struggles Woolf highlighted are amplified. Economic independence, for example, is a cornerstone of creative freedom, yet systemic ableism often limits their access to education, employment, and resources. Many rely on family or caregivers, making financial autonomy—and by extension, creative autonomy—a distant dream.
Woolf’s metaphorical “room” also raises questions about access. How can women with disabilities carve out a private, uninterrupted space for themselves in a world where physical spaces are still largely inaccessible? The absence of inclusive infrastructure often denies them the freedom to think, create, and dream.
Woolf’s fictional Judith Shakespeare—a woman with as much talent as her brother, yet denied the same opportunities—feels eerily familiar. Women with disabilities are often overlooked, their potential erased by the twin forces of patriarchy and ableism. And yet, despite these barriers, many are breaking the silence and reshaping the narrative. Writers like Riva Lehrer (Golem Girl) and activists like Alice Wong (Disability Visibility) are claiming their space, proving that the creative genius Woolf championed exists across all intersections of identity.
Revisiting A Room of One’s Own through this lens shows us how far we still have to go. A “room of one’s own” for women with disabilities isn’t just about financial independence or privacy—it’s about accessible spaces, equitable opportunities, and dismantling ableist attitudes that limit creativity and intellect. It’s about building a world where everyone can thrive.
Virginia Woolf’s vision remains as relevant as ever, but to make it inclusive, we need to address the unique challenges faced by women with disabilities. Together, we can create a future where they, too, have the space to write, dream, and create freely.