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·5 min read
by Team Thinx | April 07, 2016
Last weekend, American author Gay Talese spoke to a room of 600 people at The Power of the Narrative conference, held by Boston University. When asked what female writers have inspired him, Talese answered with a simple, yet deafening “None.” Yikes. Talese (painfully) continued and clarified, stating that at the time female writers were simply not interested in talking to “uneducated” or “anti-social” people, therefore, their reporting was entirely centered around educated subjects. Again-- yikes.
By David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons
After intense social media backlash, Talese contacted the Boston Globe and attempted to clarifying his comments, and restated that yes, no female journalists inspired him early in his career, but since then he has greatly admired female writers. In the Globe article, written by Shirley Leung, the interview style tactic of the talk was questioned, as Talese was not prompted with any follow up questions where he could elaborate and talk about the female writers and journalists he admires now.
While I greatly appreciate Talese’s follow-up, myself and the entire THINX team would still like to recommend some female writers that have inspired us, and urge him (and our readers!) to check ‘em out.
Alice Walker
Anais Nin
Anna Akhmatova
Beverly Cleary
Brene Brown
Carson McCullers
Charlotte Bronte
Cheryl Strayed
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Cynthia Enloe
Donna Tartt
Elizabeth Gilbert
Gloria Anzaldua
Gloria Steinem
Hilary Mantel
Isabel Allende
Jane Austen
Jeannette Walls
Jhumpa Lahiri
J.K. Rowling
Joan Didion
Marilyn Robinson
Mary Oliver
Maxine Hong Kingston
Mia Alvar
Miranda July
Nora Ephron
Patti Smith
Roxanne Gay
Sheila Heti
Shonda Rhimes
Susan Sontag
Sylvia Plath
Toni Morrisen
Zadie Smith
It’s not that we don’t believe Talese is well-read, or that he does, in fact, admire female writers-- but we would like him to see what talented women have inspired us. Maybe next time Talese gets asked a similar question, he can find a more elaborate answer than “none.” Maybe he will feel compelled enough to elaborate on the women that have inspired him since becoming a reporter over 60 years ago, rather than talking about the weaknesses in female reporters.
Oh, and his comment about women being afraid to talk to strangers? It sounds like he needs to watch our short documentary, The Week, where our She-E-O Miki asks men questions about periods. Perhaps he will be inspired by her as well. :)
by Team Thinx