Alex Interviews Taya
Welcome to Part Three of our Get to Know the Founders series! We thought it would be fun to give readers a chance to learn more about the Uterish cofounders’ lives outside of Uterish. Part Three is a Q&A where Alex asks questions of Taya.
a star!!
What’s your favorite emoji?
Definitely the emoji with the cowboy/girl hat [Editor’s note: she’s talking about this 🤠]
Do you cook? If so, what’s your favorite thing to make?
When I’m at home (like I am now), I don’t cook very often because my mom and sister love to cook and are amazing at it. But when I’m living alone, I cook a lot! I’m a big fan of italian and all asian cuisines.
What book do you think everyone should read?
I’m struggling to think of just one, so here are some standouts:
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (and the movie, of course)
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
And then the ones I’m slightly kidding about:
The Twilight Saga
The Hunger Games
Divergent
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I’d say I’m nearly exactly 50/50 (and Myers Briggs would agree). I love to be social and be around people but like to think and process internally which can keep me quiet and can encourage me to isolate for short periods.
baby Prince!
good girl Izzie!
East Coast or West Coast?
West Coast, for sure. I enjoyed going to school in Boston and am looking forward to trying out NYC, but nothing beats the pace of life, beauty, and culture on the West Coast.
What activity helps you clear your head?
I really hate being the type, but nothing beats exercise or just staying active, which is probably a symptom of treating sports growing up as therapy.
What has been a space where you have felt feminist kinship?
My friend groups are a huge source of feminist kinship, along with playing on women’s sports teams. Surrounding yourself with people who share the same values is so fulfilling.
What was your favorite class in college? Why?
I loved my minor in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies because I got to explore so many facets of intersectional feminism. But, my overall favorite course was media strategy - it was the one class that helped me decide my next steps after college and has fully informed my career up to this point. The professor was incredible and I was overwhelmed with how much I learned and discovering something that aligned with my personal values and interests.
Taya at the Met!
Where do you want to travel to next?
My list is ridiculously long, but Tahiti is at the top as it was supposed to be my graduation trip before COVID decided to take over my plans.
Fiction or nonfiction?
Fiction! I need a break from reality and a new way to look at the world that won’t overwhelm me like nonfiction has the potential to do.
What’s your favorite blog post you’ve written for Uterish? Why?
The post on obstetric violence was my favorite only because I learned so much through the research and it continued to round out my understanding of how patriarchy and capitalism operate.
Who is someone in your life that has shaped who you are?
I owe this to so many people, but my mom and sister are massive influences. When I’m around them, I’m more excited to be experiencing the world with people who like to have fun, connect with people, laugh, explore the world, learn, and listen like I do. I’m really not sure who I’d be without them.
Taya & family!
What was a defining album of college for you?
This is an excellent question. The Euphoria soundtrack felt like the main character syndrome music I had been waiting for forever, so that’s probably #1.
Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset, only because I’m usually extremely grumpy in the morning and don’t want to be awake yet.
tiny Taya!
Let’s bring things full circle: please give us your thoughts on Twilight.
Obviously this series is extremely problematic given the heteronormative, heterosexist, misogynistic, white supremacist, tone deaf qualities that really bring this story together in some terrible ways -- particularly the portrayal of indigenous cultures and people as animalistic (literally turning into werewolves) and misrepresenting Treaties. That being said, I unfortunately make it a ritual to watch every movie at least once per year with a critical lens in mind as I’m still a fan of the saga. The books were a foundational part of my childhood that cultivated many friendships over reading and watching together.