This past week Kutztown University’s Association of Campus Events (ACE), along with the University’s Women’s Center, hosted Lindy West in the beautiful Schaeffer Auditorium. For those of you who may not know, Lindy West is an American writer, feminist, fat acceptance movement activist, and film criticism editor. She has received many awards including the 2013 “Women’s Media Center Social Media Award” and the “Stranger’s Genius Award” for books in 2016. As a passionate feminist activist myself, I was able to get some interview time with her thanks to the wonderful Dr. Clemens, the chapter advisor of Her Campus Kutztown.
After sitting down with Lindy and a room full of other fervent attendee’s, I was able to learn a lot about what West believes in and stands by. Her most recent article, “Donald and Billy on the Bus”, being the biggest topic of discussion.
When prompted about young women growing up in today’s society where Donald Trump and his offensive constructs of women are all too prevalent, she explained how we “deserve” and need to “demand better”.
“We do not need to live in a world where we take what we are given and say “thank you” West explained. “A person who treats women like animals and possessions and lacks respect for boundaries and humanity will not protect your rights. You will not be a priority”. She concluded by saying that “we have a choice here. He has told us clearly who he is and how he views women”.
From here, we were able to talk about how her womanhood has affected her path overall. As the “trolls” eventually flooded in and reacted to her article, it left me curious as to the struggles she has faced being a woman writer. She immediately described a sense of not being taken seriously or to the same degree as men do, anyway. She spoke about an “automatic credence” and lack of validity to her work. That once a male counterpart commented about a potential hint of sexism, but another male follower rebutted that comment, and all was resolved. This creates that sense of “male authority” as she put it, and that “subconsciously people are conditioned to instinctually give men more authority than women.” She even gave the example of her book “Shrill” being described as a “woman book” with a mostly female audience. Whereas something that is described as “literature” has a male author. The weight work is given depends on gender in this example. People don’t hesitate to tell women they’re wrong, but men are given the benefit of the doubt?
Regardless of the feedback she may receive, although often positive, she is still proud and confident because of the writer she has become today. Despite not initially knowing that she would become a writer, she was able to transform the fear and stigma of being a feminist activist into a “satisfying defiance”, as she explained it, through her work.
Lindy West is an inspiration for myself, and I am sure many other writers, as she exudes this contagious amount of confidence. She spoke to me about honoring those who came before us in this movement, and who lived “unapologetically”. She stressed that we should not let the world define who we are. One thing I will never forget that she said was to “listen to groups of people who are less privileged than you. Don’t prioritize your struggle. Get used to saying uncomfortable things and receiving blow back. That alone is validation that you are making an impact.”
After the short amount of time that I was so honored to be able to spend with West, I have learned so much about being a woman, being a writer, and how those two things don’t have to be separate. Lindy West is an absolutely humble and talented writer who we should all take the time to appreciate.
Thank you Lindy for your time and positivity!