Bad Feminist

essays by Gay

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Bad Feminist is a collection of essays by Roxane Gay that gained widespread acclaim in 2014. The essays reflect on her personal experiences, pop culture, and social issues, exploring themes of feminism, identity, and rape culture. Gay's writing style is witty and empathetic, often intertwining cultural commentary with deeply personal experiences. The book's title comes from her acknowledgment of enjoying aspects of culture that may not align with all feminist principles. Gay is also known for her works of fiction and memoir.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

12 Contemporary Black Authors You Must Read
Roxane Gay
…her best-selling collection of essays, Bad Feminist. The collection explores Gay’s self-professed love for many songs, books, movies, and TV shows that contradict some interpretations of feminist principles. Gay’s other celebrated works include the novel An Untamed State and Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body. In 2023 Gay, the author…
Read More
…her best-selling collection of essays, Bad Feminist. The collection explores Gay’s self-professed love for many songs, books, movies, and TV shows that contradict some interpretations of feminist principles. Gay’s other celebrated works include the novel An Untamed State and Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body. In 2023 Gay, the author…
Read More

African American literature
Nonfiction and journalism
Gay’s breakthrough was Bad Feminist (2014), a best-selling collection of essays on the often-problematic clashes between feminism and pop culture. After the runaway success of Bad Feminist, Gay published more fiction, edited anthologies, wrote an opinion column for The New York Times, and cohosted a podcast. In 2016…
Read More
Gay’s breakthrough was Bad Feminist (2014), a best-selling collection of essays on the often-problematic clashes between feminism and pop culture. After the runaway success of Bad Feminist, Gay published more fiction, edited anthologies, wrote an opinion column for The New York Times, and cohosted a podcast. In 2016…
Read More

Roxane Gay
Bad Feminist and An Untamed State
…and the best-selling essay collection Bad Feminist. Both books received accolades from critics, and Bad Feminist in particular highlights Gay’s ability to intertwine cultural commentary and deeply personal experiences in a voice that is both accessible and provocative. The book’s title came from her self-professed love for many songs, books,…
Read More
…and the best-selling essay collection Bad Feminist. Both books received accolades from critics, and Bad Feminist in particular highlights Gay’s ability to intertwine cultural commentary and deeply personal experiences in a voice that is both accessible and provocative. The book’s title came from her self-professed love for many songs, books,…
Read More