Since both my short and long paper topics focus on female authors, I decided that I should begin my research at The Women's Library in London. I filled out an application for a one day reading pass which can be filled out again each time you want to use their resources. The reading room itself is located on the second floor of the library and has over 60,000 books, periodicals, catalogues, archival collections, finding aids, and visual objects. It was established in 1926 as the Library of the London Society for Women's Service led by Millicent Fawcett. The Women's Library was renamed in 2002 and is now part of London Metropolitan University.
The first floor of the library is an exhibition hall that can be accessed by people who do not fill out reader card applications. The exhibition that was on display today was called "What Women Want". It focused on the struggles both past and present that women face as they create balanced and meaningful lives for themselves. One of the first display items that caught my eye was a banner created in 1908 by Mary Lowndes to be carried in the writer's section of the Procession of Great Women Suffragists. It said,"Mary Wollstonecraft, Pioneer." That was especially exciting for me to see. The Women's Library itself actually has a second edition copy of Wollstonecraft's A Vindication on the Rights of Woman.
As someone who is personally interested in women's studies, I was very moved by many of the posters that were being showcased. One poster from 1980 said, "Women constitute 1/2 the world's population, perform 2/3 of the world's work hours, receive 1/10 of the world's income, and own less than 1/100 of the world's property". I am interested in looking at a current UN report to see how those statistics have changed twenty-six years later.
One thing that impressed me about the exhibit was the interactive wall displays. Questions were posted such as "What is you favorite leisure activity?" and "What do you think makes a woman beautiful?" Blank note cards, pencils, and push pins were provided so that visitors could become part of the display and post their answers. I really enjoyed reading other women's responses and then looking back and seeing mine up on the wall before I left.
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