Women's roles in literature, both in "starring" in it, and creating it, have not evolved nearly as rapidly as women's changing roles in society. When Woolf states "Fiction is likely to contain more truth than fact" (p. 4) she is illustrating the inability of authors to completely separate fiction from reality. Just as those stereotypes were placed on women in fiction, they are being placed on women in sports today. When stereotypes are placed on women, they may find it more difficult to succeed in, or even enter, the world of sports. This difficulty also derives from the fact that most little girls are not raised with the idea that sports should be their main goal in life.
In many instances men are born with the notion that involvement in sports is necessary to portray a masculine image. Woolf describes the importance that is placed on male-related activites by noting that while " football and sport are "important"; the worship of fashion, the buying of clothes "trivial"." (p.74). Men have this masculine importance drilled into their heads from and early age. From the baseballs and basketballs embrodered on their baby blankets, to the pressure of highschool football tryouts and the fear of rejection by their peers, men are brought up with the notion that sports are an important part of life. Women do not have this same concept instilled in them from an early age. The differences in upbringing can be seen as detrimental to the success of women in sports, but Woolf did not necessarily see all differences between men and women as negative.
Woolf is certainly aware of the dissimilarities between women and men, and she advocates that these differences be cherished. However, her concern is that women have not been allowed to develop their own style throughout history-they have had not the time, the money, the privacy, nor the tradition. Women have not had the same advantages to pursue athletics as men have, and have therefore not received the same level of support that men do.
