Unveiling the Past: Author Ronna Russell on Intersectionality, Writing, and Healing
In this interview, author Ronna Russell opens up about the deeply personal and political themes that shape her writing. From confronting the complexities of white women’s privilege in her novel Scold’s Bridle to reflecting on the trauma of her religious upbringing in her memoir, Russell shares her journey of self-discovery, vulnerability, and the power of storytelling.
Written by Briana Williams
Photo courtesy of Ronna Russell
Raised in a highly religious and repressive environment, Russell’s experiences shaped her perspective on personal liberation. Despite the struggles and complexities of navigating relationships and motherhood, she emphasizes the importance of radical acceptance and forgiveness—both for oneself and others. Russell’s ability to confront these deeply personal and societal issues makes her work not only powerful but essential for readers seeking a deeper understanding of the intricacies of privilege and power in contemporary society. Here are some of the thoughts that Russell shared with Off Radar:
Off Radar: In your newest novel, Scold’s Bridle, there was one sentence in the synopsis that really stuck out to me. It reads, “Ronna Russell weaves a backward-in-time series of short stories depicting the violent oppression, complicity, and participation of white women, exposing individual choices that resulted in the abandonment of sisterhood for survival.” I think Scold’s Bridle is an especially important read now that we are facing another Trump administration. Not many white women feel comfortable acknowledging their privileged roles in society, and I really admire you for writing an entire piece of art about that idea. What has been your journey with intersectionality? Is it something you’ve ever struggled with?
Russell: Thank you for this question. I struggle to understand the layers involved with recognizing privilege. Like, it is so enormous. It seems like the whole world is built on white supremacy, certainly the US is, and it goes back for centuries. Built on stolen land by enslaved labor. I heard a speaker say one time that if you start down this path of trying to understand intersectionality (as a white woman) you will have your ass handed to you. This is true. So, if understanding is the goal, the only way to get there is moving past the humiliation of the ass-kicking and absorbing the lessons and messages there. Not giving up. I think most people, most white women, don’t bother. It’s hard. Really hard and at times feels almost masochistic. But the fact that we don’t have to try to understand if we don’t want to is yet another reflection of inherent privilege. I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but do Black women have that choice? To just not think about it?
Ronna Russell is an author whose writing explores complex themes of identity, privilege, and personal transformation. Her journey as a writer is shaped by both her personal experiences and her academic background, having graduated from Kent State University at the age of fifty-six. With a degree that spanned creative writing, anthropology, women’s studies, and history, Russell’s education deeply influenced her work, particularly in her novel Scold’s Bridle. In this book, she examines the violent oppression and complicity of white women, demonstrating how establishing a strong sense of sisterhood isn’t always the top priority.
Russell: My time at Kent State influenced my writing in several very big ways. One of my minors is in creative writing, which gave me the opportunity to get feedback in real time and to hone and polish my writing skills. The continuous writing assignments forced me to practice, a requirement for building any skill. Another influence was the education I received in anthropology, women’s studies, and history, all of which informed Scold’s Bridle.
I always enjoyed writing but never took it seriously. After my divorce in 2012, I started writing short stories about my upbringing which turned into my memoir.
My next project is about Rebecca, the main character in SB, as a modern-day version of Rebecca from the Old Testament, who is presented as a heroine in Christian studies. In actuality, she was a villain, a truly terrible person, and I want to write that story and show how it is used as propaganda to reinforce the “rightness” of monotheism. If I can, I’ll work in my theory that the serpent in the Garden of Eden was actually trying to save Eve and “God” was the enslaver. Seems pretty obvious to me.
Off Radar: Starting over is hard, but you did it successfully and with grace. Do you have any words of wisdom to those who may be in a similar situation that you were once in? Was there anything in particular – a book, song, a quote – that gave you strength during this tough time?
Russell: When things were really dark, my brother-in-law told me to do the right thing the best you can every day. The old adage, take it a day at a time. I failed a lot. I screwed up a lot. I let my kids down a lot. I’m not sure I am in any position to give advice. Life is so messy, starting over is painful and lonely. My main goal was to get my kids through it and I did. The unfortunate reality is that happiness, for some of them, means very little relationship with me. So radical acceptance of their choices… It's painful.
I will say that it is absolutely necessary to give yourself time and space and forgiveness.
Off Radar: I know that you grew up in a severely religious and repressed environment, do you think that that’s something people who’ve experienced that same trauma can ever fully heal from? Do you ever notice any hesitations about living a lifestyle that is completely different from what you were taught was right as a child?
Russell: I have never had any hesitations about escaping from religion. When you realize that everything you have been told is a lie, you are free to start over.
I wonder about the term healing. I don’t think there is an end to that process. Our formative experiences are part of who we are and will always crop up – influencing how we respond to situations, etc. I think learning to recognize those responses and behaviors is key. For instance, having been raised with rapture mythology, I find that I am still prone to apocalyptic thinking. It’s a very “the sky is falling” way of interpreting events.
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Ronna Russell’s work is a call to action for those of us willing to challenge our assumptions, confront our complicity, and engage in the difficult work of personal and collective healing. Whether you’re reading her novels or reflecting on her life’s journey, the message is clear: healing, though often painful and non-linear, is possible—and storytelling, in all its forms, is a vital part of that process.
I noticed the sincere effort from some white women speakers, like Glennon Doyle, to rally white women, especially white evangelicals, to vote for Harris, for sisterhood. While I totally supported the effort, I did not think it would succeed. I hoped that, at best, the effort would shave off enough voters to make a difference. I really hated to be right.
To be very clear, I am not here to say that I understand intersectionality or am some kind of expert. Far from it. But I can say that I am trying.
Off Radar: You graduated at the age of fifty-six from Kent State University in 2022. How did your time at Kent State influence your writing journey? When did your love for writing emerge? As someone who’s read both of your books and loved them both, do you have any plans for a third project?