Anne Roiphe
Anne Roiphe
Full Name and Common Aliases
Anne Roiphe was a renowned American journalist, author, and essayist known by her full name, Anne Kingman Roiphe.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on October 26, 1931, in New York City, Roiphe passed away on April 12, 2017, at the age of 85.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Anne Roiphe was an American journalist, author, and essayist. She worked extensively as a writer for various publications, including The Village Voice, The New York Times Magazine, and Vogue.
Early Life and Background
Roiphe grew up in a middle-class Jewish family in Manhattan's Upper East Side. Her parents were intellectuals who encouraged her love of reading and writing from an early age. Roiphe attended the progressive Dalton School before enrolling at Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied literature and philosophy. After graduating from college, she moved to Paris, where she began working as a translator and writer.
Major Accomplishments
Roiphe's writing career spanned over four decades, during which she published numerous essays, articles, and books on topics ranging from politics and social justice to culture and feminism. Her work was characterized by its incisive analysis, wit, and lyrical prose. Roiphe was a pioneer in the field of feminist journalism, offering provocative and insightful commentary on women's roles in society.
Notable Works or Actions
Roiphe wrote several influential books, including The Power of Dress: The History of Clothing from 1700 to Today, which explored the intersection of fashion and culture. Her memoir, Love, Fiercely, offered a candid portrayal of her relationships and experiences as a woman in the public eye.
Impact and Legacy
Anne Roiphe's writing had a significant impact on feminist thought and cultural discourse. Her essays often pushed boundaries, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and society. Roiphe was also an influential teacher and mentor, having taught creative writing at several universities and workshops throughout her career.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Anne Roiphe's legacy as a writer and thinker continues to be felt today. Her incisive commentary on women's roles in society, her unflinching examination of personal relationships, and her commitment to social justice have made her a beloved and respected figure among readers and writers alike. As a writer who fearlessly explored the complexities of human experience, Roiphe remains an inspiration to anyone who values honest and thought-provoking literature.
Roiphe's work continues to be widely quoted and referenced in academic and popular contexts, serving as a testament to her enduring influence on feminist theory, cultural critique, and literary journalism.
Quotes by Anne Roiphe
Anne Roiphe's insights on:
Romanticizing the act of writing or any other art is not very helpful to the artist or the art. It’s much better if one simply does.
I don’t really think it comes as a shock to every writer if somebody in their family is mad at them. Yes, it’s very upsetting. But it’s inherent in the process of trying to make sense of one’s life, which is what I think is perhaps at the bottom of writing at all.
I think our material is our lives. That’s part of being a modern writer, and we have to use it.
We also have to make sure our children know the history of women. Tell them the rotten truth: It wasn’t always possible for women to become doctors or managers or insurance people. Let them be armed with a true picture of the way we want it to be.
I have two writer daughters, and a psychoanalyst daughter, and a lawyer daughter, and they wish we didn’t write, I’m sure, but we write. If we were a painting family, we would paint.
When I grew up, you needed to have straight hair. It’s symbolic of needing to be like everyone else, needing to look like everyone else. And what that meant was looking like the dominant ruling class in America.
I would prefer you not to say, “That was the most terribly written piece I’ve ever read.” That would hurt me. But you don’t think I’m the best person in the world? Well, alright.
Is it possible that my sons-in-law will do toilets? If we raise boys to know that diapers need to be changed and refrigerators need to be cleaned, there’s hope for the next generation.
Decay is quiet but ghastly, explosion is dramatic and dreadful. There’s not much to choose between the two of them in reality, and most of our lives have sufficient of both.