Elizabeth Gilbert Dissects the "Chick Lit" Label | Big Think | Summary and Q&A

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April 23, 2012
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Big Think
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Elizabeth Gilbert Dissects the "Chick Lit" Label | Big Think

TL;DR

The author discusses her transition from writing primarily about men to being labeled a "chick-lit" author, and highlights the importance of women's reading and the unique challenges faced by women in modern society.

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Key Insights

  • πŸ’… The author's extensive experience writing about men and exploring masculinity influenced her own personal growth and self-discovery.
  • πŸ§”β€β™€οΈ The label of "chick-lit" author highlights the denigration of women's reading and the misconception that women's literature is somehow less valuable.
  • ✍️ The author acknowledges the importance of gender-based writing and the topics that resonate with female readers.
  • πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ Women today face a societal experiment, where they have been given more power, autonomy, and choices, but lack established role models and societal consensus on what constitutes a well-led woman's life.
  • πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ The author highlights the difficulty faced by women in balancing family and career choices and the need for women to become mystics, as defined by Martha Beck, in order to find peace and happiness in their chosen paths.
  • πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ Men also grapple with these questions, but women, in particular, face a more pronounced struggle and societal pressure from a young age.
  • πŸ˜… The success of "Eat Pray Love" may be attributed to the author's ability to insert her own version of navigating these questions into the larger conversation.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did the author transition from writing about men to being labeled a "chick-lit" author?

The author wrote extensively about men for a solid decade, but after personal struggles, she wrote "Eat Pray Love," which became a hit and led to her being labeled a chick-lit author.

Q: How does the author feel about being referred to as a chick-lit writer?

The author finds the label of chick-lit writer strange and not necessarily complimentary, especially considering that women are the primary readers in today's culture.

Q: What does the author think about gender-based writing?

The author finds the concept of gender-based writing curious and believes that there is no such thing as gender-neutral writing or thinking. She questions the need to categorize and label authors based on their gender.

Q: What challenges does the author highlight for women in modern society?

The author discusses the unique challenges faced by women in modern society, such as the lack of role models and societal expectations surrounding family versus career choices.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • The author reflects on her decade-long focus on writing about men and her attraction to the "flinty Macho" persona.

  • After experiencing personal struggles, she wrote the book "Eat Pray Love" and gained recognition as a chick-lit author, which she finds curious and somewhat derogatory.

  • The author discusses the denigration of women's reading and her upcoming memoir, which caters to female readers and explores the subject of marriage.

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