We won’t even pretend not to gush about this one.
Elissa Bassist, a feminist extraordinaire, Funny Woman and impressive writer (and former extra on 30 Rock) “sat down” with us to answer a few questions about women, writing and identity. We’d say we developed a pretty awesome E-friendship.
Grab your pen and paper. This is only part one.
Elissa Bassist: Before this interview begins, the reader should note the title of this Word doc is “questions for E-Bass,” which is adorable. Only my closest friends and high school debate team call me E-Bass, so we’re contractually obligated to be close friends now.
Kaylen & Joanna: In 2012, you wrote about “the girls’ club” for the “Funny Women” column you edit on TheRumpus.net. How has The Club evolved in one year? What does The Club look like? What does The Club still need? What kind of refreshments will we find in The Club? Is there a dress code?
EB: It’s hard to say how “The Club” has evolved in one year. I’m going to cheat and steal a snippet with my recent interview with high priestess Cheryl Strayed/Dear Sugar in Creative Nonfiction:
BASSIST: I began my letter to you, “I write like a girl,” believing I was at a disadvantage due to gender bias in publishing. I worried that my writing—focused on the emotional, the personal, the “small”—would be taken less seriously than men’s writing. You said, yes, it probably would. Your advice was to “get your ass down onto the floor. Write so blazingly good that you can’t be framed. … You have to tell us what you have to say.” I did what you told me to do—I got down on the ground, and I wrote. [Note: this is not ergonomic, but it’s a good temporary exercise, metaphorically and spiritually.]
I had a reading last week, and a man approached afterward to say, “You know, your writing is really girly.” I replied, “Thank you so much.” There has been a shift in me, and I think you are a pivotal force in a macro-level shift, with the publication of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things, both bestsellers. Have you felt a change since we last talked about “writing like a girl” in the column?
STRAYED: I haven’t seen the shift. Lots of women writers have been publishing for decades, and many of them have been and are well-regarded and well-published. I think gender bias exists in forms that are more discreet and ingrained. I’ve had an incredible experience with Wild. It’s been received warmly by critics and readers alike. But a running theme has been how many men have said something along the lines of, “Wow, I was so surprised I loved your book, because I’m a man.” These men mean no harm—I don’t take those comments personally—and yet the fact that they were surprised that they loved a book by and about a woman is an indication of the sexism women writers are up against every time they write. It tells me that women writers are still perceived as less capable than men writers of telling the big universal human story.
Do with that what you will.
As for what “The Club” looks like, I imagine it has a ceiling made of glass that is spider-webbing with cracks.
I also think of the Parks and Recreation episode wherein Leslie Knope introduces the Pawnee Goddesses “Five years ago a plucky fifth grader wanted to join the Pawnee Rangers, but their executive council said what obnoxious jerks always say, ‘No, this is males only. Go start your own club.’ She couldn’t. So I did. We’re called the Pawnee Goddesses, and we’re freaking awesome. [Holds up awesome T-shirt.]”
“The Club” needs more members! Would you believe so many women don’t call themselves feminists? Also, “there’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women,” Taylor Swift recently credited Katie Couric as hearing from someone else (that would be Madeleine Albright), and so I’d say “The Club” could really benefit from having all women as members. Men and dogs are also invited.
Am I still answering this question?
I am! The refreshments served in “The Club” include grilled cheese sandwiches, all candy, nachos, spicy tuna rolls, buttered bagels, cherry Icees and movie theater popcorn, green tea, and bacon. I just listed all my favorite foods.
The dress code is sweatpants.
K/J: What do you consider as your primary identity—woman or writer? Can you even separate the two?
EB: I worry this is a problematic question. I hate to put labels on anything, except relationships and file folders. I would say I’m a human who writes and pees sitting down. Does that work?
K/J: How do you feel about being named one of the 10 women who should be writing for Harper’s by Flavorwire? Do you want to write for Harper’s?
EB: I FEEL SO AWESOME ABOUT IT. Yes, please, I’d like to write for Harper’s. The problem though, which is true of many magazines, is there’s one (if any) memoir/personal essay slot per issue. While I feel/hope/pray I can/will write about anything, my passion is memoir/personal essay, which is given less space than reported pieces.
Also, I’ve had to talk myself off many ledges re: lists I’m not on (most lists) and remember only one person compiles each. As Michelle Orange, author of the bonkers good essay collection This Is Running for Your Life, once said to me in a personal email, “Lists are lame and silly, except when you make one! Then they’re awesome.”
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Recently added to The Riveter’s list of Things To Do:
1. Listen to advice from women. Repeat advice. We believe this is called “paying it forward” wisdom-style.
2. Write. Write. Write.
3. Crack that glass.
Stay tuned for Part II with Elissa when we discuss journaling, The Vagina Monologues and writing as a political act.
Cheers.
K & J
