Inspiring Women Summer 2018

found that when I am conscious of this inhibition, that my writing drastically improves and is
much clearer (and faster!).
I think that my three most important achievements to date are: 1. Getting a book contract with
Harvard University Press; 2. Viral blog post, “An open letter to Mark Zuckerberg;” 3. Creating a
viral tweet storm on my phone after frustration with news coverage of an anti-fascist protest.
GETTING TO KNOW JEN
Tell us about an event in your life that
made a big difference and why it did.
I had the opportunity to pitch my
documentary film, The Golf War, to
Michael Moore during a Q&A after
the screening of one of his films. He
had always been an inspiration to me
– speaking truth to power with humor.
On the spot, he committed to give
me $1000 for my film, which at the
time was significant to help raise
more money, as well as bolstering my
confidence in my storytelling, and in
unorthodox filming. I told him how I
snuck into a golf course to film Tiger
Woods while he was in the Philippines
promoting golf in the country – while nearby,
his sponsors were funding a golf and tourist
resort that was kicking farmers off their land
and killing those who non-violently protested.
What personal motto do you live by and how
does it affect what you do/don’t do? Be true
to yourself. This is bolstered by my yoga
practice and always makes my writing better.
If you could only save a copy of one book/
play/poem from the flames, what would it be
and why? The longest book ever written. If I
only had one book left to read, I’d want to
make it last. When I was in the Philippines living
with rebel guerrillas, I could only bring one
book with me and savoured it by rationing it
every day.
What is your favorite word and why?
Parsimonious – oh, the irony of a word that is
supposed to describe simplicity in creating
categories, but is actually a complicated
word – it sums up all that is wrong with
academic writing (yet I use it myself at times.)
If you could meet one writer, dead or alive,
what question would you ask them and why?
Charlotte Perkins Gilman – her short story, “The
Yellow Wallpaper,” had a profound effect on
me – how she told the personally inspired story
of patriarchy and oppression. She was also
influenced by her great aunt Harriet Beecher
Stowe, so I’d be curious to ask her how other
women writers influenced her.
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