If I body-shame a woman, it is more a reflection of me being critical of my body, me not being able to keep up to certain standards I have, and so making sure that the women around me feel the same way.
Rupi KaurRead
I'm a brown girl from a Punjabi pind raised in Toronto. I don't expect literary critics and purists to understand the nuances of my experiences, and the experiences of the people around me... And my tradition holds that there is a magic in the written word. So how I write, what I write of, and why I write all comes naturally.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the unique perspective shaped by personal background, particularly in relation to writing and culture.
In this quote, Rupi Kaur expresses her identity as a Punjabi girl raised in Toronto and acknowledges that her experiences may not be easily comprehended by literary critics or purists. She highlights the intrinsic value and magic of writing that stems from her personal experiences and cultural background, suggesting that authenticity in how she writes is essential to her craft.
Themes
IdentityWritingCultureAuthenticityExperience
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could inspire students during a creative writing workshop to embrace their unique backgrounds.
More from Rupi Kaur
All quotes →There have been articles saying that all women need to read my book. I ask, why not all men? In fact, that would be even more valuable because we women want to sit down with men and tell them - this is how we feel, this is what we go through.
Rupi KaurRead
When I was little, my dad told me about Anandpur Sahib and the court of Guru Gobind Singh. That we came from a tradition of poets, warriors and artists who created when it was illegal to create... we're groomed to be reckless in the defense of what we feel is right.
Rupi KaurRead
I wasn't entitled to dream so big. The idea of me being a writer wasn't even possible in my mind. Even when I began to write and first published, I couldn't call myself a writer.
Rupi KaurRead
The way a small child might dream of visiting Disneyland, I dreamed of writing books. Never did I think my poems would become that.
Rupi KaurRead
I was always writing for myself. I wrote what I needed to write and hear - that's what makes it powerful.
Rupi KaurRead
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