--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I started writing about identity…" description: "\"I think I started writing about identity, and I used to believe that identity is the story. But now I'm not so much subscribed to that. I mean, with 'M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/helen-oyeyemi-1658_about_i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity_2077510.png" --- # I think I started writing about identity, and I used to… ![“I think I started writing about identity, and I used to believe that identity is the story. But now I'm not so much subscribed to that. I mean, with 'Mr. Fox,' it has a feminist agenda as well. And so, as I sort of been away from writing about identity, I still feel that kind of tug of roots and…” quote by Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/helen-oyeyemi-1658_about_i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity_2077510.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/helen-oyeyemi-1658_about_i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity_2077510.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/helen-oyeyemi-1658_about_i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity_2077510.png) > “I think I started writing about identity, and I used to believe that identity is the story. But now I'm not so much subscribed to that. I mean, with 'Mr. Fox,' it has a feminist agenda as well. And so, as I sort of been away from writing about identity, I still feel that kind of tug of roots and, you know, cultural background.” [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on evolving views of identity, seeing it as more than a narrative, influenced by feminist themes and cultural roots. **In simple terms:** Identity is complex, shaped by culture and feminism, not just a story. Key Takeaway Embrace evolving perspectives on self. Themes identity culture feminism writing self‑exploration Mood thoughtful introspective Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - creative writing - academic research - personal reflection - social activism Key Concepts narrative theory intersectionality cultural heritage Questions to Reflect On - How do cultural roots shape your sense of self? - In what ways does feminism intersect with personal identity? A Different Perspective Identity cannot be fully captured by a single story; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fox/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You have to be true to your instinctive way of writing. You have to find your identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-coel/you-have-to-be-true-to-your-instinctive-way-of-writing-you-have-to/) [Michaela Coel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-coel/) > [Writing about identity can be like maneuvering through a minefield, even when considering contemporary figures who have discussed the subject themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-mann/writing-about-identity-can-be-like-maneuvering-through-a-minefield/) [William J. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-mann/) > [I believe that a lot of minority writers stress about whether they get pigeonholed in writing about identity stuff, like you can't write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chatterton-williams/i-believe-that-a-lot-of-minority-writers-stress-about-whether-they/) [Thomas Chatterton Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chatterton-williams/) > ['2016' is based on an experiment: what if you let Obama do it himself? That experiment is necessarily limited because I'm not factoring in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/2016-is-based-on-an-experiment-what-if-you-let-obama-do-it-himself/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [War reporters are often seen as a wild bunch of thrill-seekers who wade into danger zones simply for the sake of the adrenalin high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/war-reporters-are-often-seen-as-a-wild-bunch-of-thrill-seekers-who/) [Gayle Tzemach Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/) > [It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round. If everyone was straight-laced and uptight, it would sure be a drag. We need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/it-takes-all-kinds-to-make-the-world-go-round-if-everyone-was/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [I love the fact that we are surrounded by this spectacular natural beauty that routinely strikes us dead. Hikers walk off into the woods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-love-the-fact-that-we-are-surrounded-by-this-spectacular-natural/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [I have never been in a serious relationship and never had a break-up, so I can't tug on my heartstrings that way. But whenever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/i-have-never-been-in-a-serious-relationship-and-never-had-a-break-up/) [Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/) > [A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth. It means that you can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/a-conviction-that-you-are-a-daughter-of-god-gives-you-a-feeling-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [“We may have been stuck in our hurt, hang-up or harmful habit for so long that it has become part of how we perceive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan/we-may-have-been-stuck-in-our-hurt-hang-up-or-harmful-habit-for-so/) Zondervan > [When you come from a place and an identity, you can feel constricted and have to get away. But then you realise how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/when-you-come-from-a-place-and-an-identity-you-can-feel-constricted/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [If I want someone to recognize the gender identity I feel, I'd have to ask for that. I can't assume people will know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jane-grace/if-i-want-someone-to-recognize-the-gender-identity-i-feel-i-d-have-to/) [Laura Jane Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-jane-grace/) > [Tennis helped give me an identity and made me feel like somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/tennis-helped-give-me-an-identity-and-made-me-feel-like-somebody/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [I was very, very shy as a younger girl, just petrified of people. Tennis helped give me an identity and made me feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/i-was-very-very-shy-as-a-younger-girl-just-petrified-of-people-tennis/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [“I shied away from any type of photograph ... because I thought I was hideous, because in my eyes I was. I had giant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-shied-away-from-any-type-of-photograph-because-i-thought-i-was/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) ## More by Helen Oyeyemi > [“Juju is not enough to protect you. Everything you have I will turn against you. I'll turn sugar bitter for you. I'll take your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/juju-is-not-enough-to-protect-you-everything-you-have-i-will-turn/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/marriage-is-no-real-excuse-for-not-loving/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [I do tend to feel more connected to dead writers, perhaps because they have finished their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-do-tend-to-feel-more-connected-to-dead-writers-perhaps-because-they/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“People don’t make too much money around here, but what comes with that is a different definition of what it means to be well-off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/people-don-t-make-too-much-money-around-here-but-what-comes-with-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“He looked honored, extraordinarily honored, seeming to care for that which tore his flesh than he did for the flesh itself, embracing the blade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/he-looked-honored-extraordinarily-honored-seeming-to-care-for-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“White-flowered shrubs thickened around her and so did sleep; it directed her limbs. Lie down now, sleep said sweetly. Lie down. These are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/white-flowered-shrubs-thickened-around-her-and-so-did-sleep-it/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [I don't despise 'Don Quixote,' but it is a book I don't... get. I'll have to come back it. Maybe there'll be a gateway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-don-t-despise-don-quixote-but-it-is-a-book-i-don-t-get-i-ll-have-to/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“I think her favorite thing about our . . . collaboration was her actor and musician friends rubbing shoulders with my academic colleagues, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-her-favorite-thing-about-our-collaboration-was-her-actor-and/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“After half an hour the Senora emerged, short of breath, with flushed cheeks…as uf she'd been seized and shaken like a faulty thermometer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/after-half-an-hour-the-senora-emerged-short-of-breath-with-flushed/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“It was the usual struggle between one who loves by accepting burdens and one who loves by refusing to be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/it-was-the-usual-struggle-between-one-who-loves-by-accepting-burdens/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“Pops says he loves me just the way I am, but not everyone in the world is like my father. Maman, for example. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/pops-says-he-loves-me-just-the-way-i-am-but-not-everyone-in-the-world/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“With boys there was a fundamental assumption that they had a right to be there—not always, but more often than not. With girls, Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/with-boys-there-was-a-fundamental-assumption-that-they-had-a-right-to/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The more forcibly I'm made aware of the fact that I'll never be the kind of storyteller I most admire, the less I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/the-more-forcibly-i-m-made-aware-of-the-fact-that-i-ll-never-be-the/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The girl was lighter without her heart. She danced barefoot on the hot roads, and her feet were not cut by the glass or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/the-girl-was-lighter-without-her-heart-she-danced-barefoot-on-the-hot/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“So her missing person's poster features a girl with long hair and dreamy eyes that don't see the fracture coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/so-her-missing-person-s-poster-features-a-girl-with-long-hair-and/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) [Explore all 218 Helen Oyeyemi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I started writing about identity, and I used to believe that identity is the story. But now I'm not so much subscribed to that. I mean, with 'Mr. Fox,' it has a feminist agenda as well. And so, as I sort of been away from writing about identity, I still feel that kind of tug of roots and, you know, cultural background.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helen Oyeyemi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity-and-i-used-to-believe-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity-and-i-used-to-believe-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/helen-oyeyemi-1658_about_i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity_2077510.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/helen-oyeyemi-1658_about_i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity_2077510.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/helen-oyeyemi-1658_about_i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity_2077510.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think I started writing about identity, and I used to believe that identity is the story. But now I'm not…” — Helen Oyeyemi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Helen Oyeyemi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think I started writing about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity-and-i-used-to-believe-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-i-started-writing-about-identity-and-i-used-to-believe-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```