Author Background

Roxane Gay is an acclaimed American writer, editor, and professor known for her impactful contributions to literature and cultural commentary. She was born on October 15, 1974, in Omaha, Nebraska, and has become a prominent voice in contemporary literature and social discourse.

Early Life

Roxane Gay grew up in a Haitian-American family in Omaha. She has spoken openly about her experiences of sexual assault during her childhood, which have influenced her writing and advocacy on issues related to trauma and gender.

Gay earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Yale University and later pursued graduate studies in creative writing, earning a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Literary Career

Roxane Gay is a versatile writer, acclaimed for both her fiction and nonfiction works. She has published numerous essays, short stories, and novels that explore themes such as identity, race, gender, body image, and social justice.

One of her most well-known works is the essay collection Bad Feminist (2014), which examines contemporary feminist issues and the complexities of being a feminist in a flawed world.

In 2017, Roxane Gay released her memoir, Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body, which candidly explores her experiences with trauma, body image, and her relationship with food.

Some of her other notable works include Ayiti (2011), An Untamed State (2014), Difficult Women (2017), Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture (2018), and Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business (2023).

Gay has taught creative writing and English at various universities, including Eastern Illinois University, Purdue University, and Yale University.

Cultural Commentary and Advocacy

Roxane Gay has an active presence on social media platforms, where she shares her thoughts and engages in conversations about social issues, literature, and popular culture.

As a prominent feminist voice, Gay emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in addressing issues related to race, gender, and social justice.

Roxane Gay is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, and her work has appeared in various publications, including The Guardian, Time, and Salon. She has worked as an editor for various literary magazines and anthologies.

Legacy

Roxane Gay’s powerful and unapologetic writing, combined with her insightful cultural commentary, has established her as a leading contemporary literary figure. Through her works and advocacy, she addresses pressing social issues and encourages important conversations about feminism, body image, sexual assault, and more. Her contribution to literature and the broader cultural landscape has earned her a dedicated following and critical acclaim worldwide.

“Feminism (n.): Plural”

A good place to start a discussion of women writers is by reading Roxane Gay’s introduction to her book Bad Feminist: Essays titled  “Feminism (n.): Plural.”  You can borrow and read this text by creating a free account on Internet Archive, the online public library:  https://archive.org/details/badfeministessay0000gayr_x3r9/page/n5/mode/2up

The introduction is on pages xi-xvii.

You can also watch Roxane Gay read from and discuss Bad Feminist in this TED talk:

Woman Made Gallery

Curator Claudine Ise, curator at Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, was inspired by Gay’s work as she curated the 2015 exhibit of the same name. Ise says,  “the guiding premise of “Feminism (n.) Plural” is that feminism is not a monolithic movement but instead an ever-evolving concept. There is no capital F “Feminism” acting as the Law to which its subjects must blindly adhere—that, of course, is the very definition of Patriarchy. There are instead plural feminisms through which people of various gender identifications, ages, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds espouse and enact their belief in a just and equal society.”

Sources

“Author Roxane Gay’s Life and Career.”  Master Class, 21 Sept. 2022, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/roxane-gay-acclaimed-works-guide#:~:text=Author%20Roxane%20Gay%E2%80%99s%20Life%20and%20Career

“Feminism (n.): Plural.” Woman Made Gallery,

https://womanmade.org/artwork/feminism-plural/  Accessed 19 May 2023.

Gay, Roxane.  Bad Feminist: Essays.  Internet Archive, 2017, https://archive.org/details/badfeministessay0000gayr_x3r9/page/n5/mode/2up

“Roxane Gay: Confessions of a Bad Feminist | TED.” YouTube, uploaded by TED,  22 June 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxt_MZKMdes

Roxane Gay’s Official Website.  2023, http://www.roxanegay.com