Lauren Groff Confronts American Masculinity & Male Violence in Her Work
Author Lauren Groff recently discussed her writing, particularly her exploration of male violence and the complexities of raising sons in a society steeped in patriarchal norms, in an interview accompanying the publication of her short story, “Mother of Men.” groff revealed the story was conceived from a place of “snapping” – a culmination of frustration with “soulless, rotten men in the public sphere” and a personal experience with a stalker (though the character in the story is fictional). She stated this feeling empowered her to ”tell whatever story I want” and refuse “compliance nor silence” to those in power who thrive on fear.
the interview touched upon Groff’s ongoing engagement with themes of male violence, foreshadowing her forthcoming collection, Brawler, set to release next spring. Seven stories within Brawler were previously published in The New Yorker, a process Groff described as an “amazing gift” due to the publication’s rigorous editorial process.
Groff explained that she doesn’t consciously set out to write stories around a central theme. Rather,she finds that collections reveal a “very clear,shining thread” woven through the subconscious during the writing process. She likened the assembly of a collection to crafting “the strongest possible argument” through careful story selection and ordering.
A important portion of the interview focused on Groff’s anxieties surrounding raising her sons. She expressed concern that they may not fully grasp the societal implications of their male privilege and the potential for their bodies to be perceived as threats. She worries about the ingrained misogyny present in American masculinity, including the tendency to reflexively dismiss women’s perspectives. Despite acknowledging this deeply rooted issue – “tens of thousands of years of male supremacy and normalized violence and domination” – she remains committed to educating her sons and “hope[ing] for the best.”
