PBS NewsHour Discusses Feminist Poetry's Renaissance

At PBS NewsHour, Jennifer Hijazi introduces readers to three women poets who are part of feminist poetry's contemporary renaissance. Hijazi notes that this moment is particularly significant for women of color, and, with poet and editor Julie Enszer, applauds literary organizations Cave Canem, Lambda Literary, and Kundiman’s efforts "championing minority voices." As Enszer explains, "poetry has also invested in various systems of mentorship that have contributed to the flowering that we’re seeing at this particular moment." Let's learn more about the poets Enszer lauds and read their perspectives about feminist poetry, beginning with Susan Nguyen: 

Susan Nguyen, poet and MFA student at Arizona State University, writes poetry that “carves out space” for her body and identity as an Asian-American woman. She says her work doesn’t deal with pleasant or pretty themes, and her inspiration for “All the Good Women are Gone” came from a deep dive into disparaging online forums about where all the “good women” are.

“What is a ‘good woman’? You know, I don’t even know that supposed to mean in the first place,” Nguyen said.

The past year since the 2016 election instilled a sense of urgency in Nguyen to explore her identity through poetry. She can’t predict the direction feminism is moving, but even watershed moments like #MeToo sometimes seem “far away” from the average woman’s experience.

Nguyen hopes that, moving forward, feminist movements start including more marginalized voices as a rule, not just an afterthought.

“I think it’s important to still be listening to women of color and just being very conscious of privilege and the different intersection of what it means call yourself a woman,” she said. “Not just gender but also especially race and class and ability.”

Who she’s reading: Monica Youn, Sharon Olds

Read more about Nina Donovan and Aja Monet at PBS NewsHour.