I really should learn more about women in STEM fields, because my Woman Who Inspires me this week is yet another writer. But as I’ve touched upon before, most of my personal interests tend to be drawn towards the creative fields, so I suppose that’s why I find women in those fields to be personally inspiring.
Lindy West
I first encountered Lindy West’s work when I read her collection of essays, “Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman” and it was one of my favourite books that I read that year. West used to be a staff writer at Jezebel where she covered racism, sexism and fat-shaming. She’s since moved to the New York Times where she covers feminism and popular culture.
When I read West’s book I laughed aloud multiple times, cried and was moved more than I can possibly write on this space. Her fight for body acceptance is a fight for all women’s bodies. She’s reclaimed the word ‘fat’ for herself, she’s confident, she’s unafraid to stand up for her beliefs, and she’s hilarious. She can also be scathing and incisive.
“I think we’re moving in the direction of body acceptance, but it gets dangerous when you’re looking at a conventionally beautiful, hourglass-shaped, size 14 plus-sized model and saying, ‘Yay, body diversity! We’re done!’ Because if you really believe in body acceptance, then you need to be comfortable with literally all bodies” – Lindy West
To read more by the woman herself, I love her article for the Guardian, “The ‘perfect body’ is a lie. I believed it for a long time and let it shrink my life” As someone who has suffered quite a bit from self-esteem issues, when I read West’s words they honestly make me love myself more. And I loved her op-ed for the New York Times on some of the #metoo movement (Yes, This is a Witch Hunt. I’m a Witch and I’m Hunting You.) And her piece “The Megyn Kelly Problem” is also powerful.
Some of my favourite Lindy West quotes:
“Don’t tell thin women to eat a cheeseburger. Don’t tell fat women to put down the fork. Don’t tell underweight men to bulk up. Don’t tell women with facial hair to wax, don’t tell uncircumcised men they’re gross, don’t tell muscular women to go easy on the dead-lift, don’t tell dark-skinned women to bleach their vagina, don’t tell black women to relax their hair, don’t tell flat-chested women to get breast implants, don’t tell “apple-shaped” women what’s “flattering,” don’t tell mothers to hide their stretch marks, and don’t tell people whose toes you don’t approve of not to wear flip-flops. And so on, etc, etc, in every iteration until the mountains crumble to the sea. Basically, just go ahead and CEASE telling other human beings what they “should” and “shouldn’t” do with their bodies unless a) you are their doctor, or b) SOMEBODY GODDAMN ASKED YOU.”
“The witches are coming, but not for your life, we’re coming for your legacy.”
“I reject the notion that thinness is the goal, that thin = better — that I am an unfinished thing and that my life can really start when I lose weight. That then I will be a real person and have finally succeeded as a woman. I am not going to waste another second of my life thinking about this. I don’t want to have another fucking conversation with another fucking woman about what she’s eating or not eating or regrets eating or pretends to not regret eating to mask the regret. OOPS I JUST YAWNED TO DEATH.”
“Privilege means that it’s easy for white women to do each other favours. Privilege means that those of us who need it the least often get the most help.”
“Loving yourself is not antithetical to health, it is intrinsic to health. You can’t take good care of a thing you hate.”
“Maybe you are thin. You hiked that trail and you are fit and beautiful and wanted and I am so proud of you, I am so in awe of your wiry brightness; and I’m miles behind you, my breathing ragged. But you didn’t carry this up the mountain, You only carried yourself. How hard would you breathe if you had to carry me? You couldn’t. But I can.”
If you haven’t read “Shrill” I highly recommend it!
Read similar posts:
Women Who Inspire Me #1: Joan Didion
A Christmas Gift Guide for Your Favourite Feminist
Women Who Inspire Me #2: Sylvia Plath
Feminist Reads for Every Age
Women Who Inspire Me #3: Georgia O’Keeffe
Women Who Inspire Me #4: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
My Feminism Journey
Women Who Inspire me #5: Audre Lorde
Women Who Inspire Me #6 Roxane Gay
Women Who Inspire Me #7 My mom
Women Who Inspire Me #8: Frida Kahlo
