Gazing through the lenses of socialization to define a female sense of self: Virginia Woolf's theoretic anticipation of Michel Foucault's notion of internal surveillance

My thesis begins by discussing feminism and Foucauldian theory. From there, it moves to a discussion of the notion of internal surveillance that is prevalent throughout Woolf's work. I argue that she theoretically anticipates Michel Foucault's theory in this regard. In essence, Woolf watches herself develop as a writer. At times she is comfortable with this development and at others she despises it. In order to articulate a female sense of self, Woolf must first become comfortable with her conscious choice to become a writer--a role that is primarily a masculine one. By surpassing the stereotype of "angel of the house," Woolf gains both power and knowledge over herself as a woman and in the process she offers insight into her perceptions of a dominating patriarchal society.