The idle woman substitutes social observation and gossip for genuine existence

Evidence

In fact, she is more likely to seek relief in social life; she goes out, makes visits, and—like Mrs. Dalloway—attaches enormous importance to her parties; she goes to every wedding, every funeral; no longer having any existence of her own, she feeds on the company of others; she goes from being a coquette to a gossip: she watches, she comments; she compensates for her inaction by dispensing criticism and advice to those around her. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1732

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes Mrs Dalloway and connects to A Visit From the Goon Squad’s meditation on how social performance substitutes for authentic living. — connects to: Busywork like needlework masks the idleness of the unoccupied woman without real purpose — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1732