9 questions for Roxane Gay

This week, Roxane Gay — feminist writer, editor, and professor of English at Purdue University — answers our questions.

What’s the first piece of media you consume every day?

Twitter.

Name a writer or publication you disagree with but still read.

The American Conservative.

Who is the person who has most influenced the way you think?

My mother.

When was the last time you changed your mind about something?

In my early 30s, I changed my mind about feminism.

What’s your worst intellectual habit?

Procrastination.

What inspires you to learn?

I am always very curious, and I like the confidence and satisfaction that comes with knowing things.

What do you need to believe in order to get through the day?

I need to believe that someday I will live full time in a place where it doesn't get cold or snowy.

What’s a view that you hold but can’t defend?

Oh, I can find a way to defend all of my views, especially the view that Vanderpump Rules is an incredible TV show.

What book have you recommended the most?

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

You can read last week’s edition of 9 Questions with Neil deGrasse Tyson here.

Will you support Vox’s explanatory journalism?

Most news outlets make their money through advertising or subscriptions. But when it comes to what we’re trying to do at Vox, there are a couple of big issues with relying on ads and subscriptions to keep the lights on:

First, advertising dollars go up and down with the economy. We often only know a few months out what our advertising revenue will be, which makes it hard to plan ahead.

Second, we’re not in the subscriptions business. Vox is here to help everyone understand the complex issues shaping the world — not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. We believe that’s an important part of building a more equal society. And we can’t do that if we have a paywall.

So even though advertising is still our biggest source of revenue, we also seek grants and reader support. (And no matter how our work is funded, we have strict guidelines on editorial independence.)

If you also believe that everyone deserves access to trusted high-quality information, will you make a gift to Vox today? Any amount helps.

One-Time Monthly Annual

$5/month

$10/month

$25/month

$50/month

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $5/month

Yes, I'll give $5/month

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via