Masha Gessen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Masha Gessen
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| Маша Гессен | |
Gessen in 2015
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| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Keith Gessen (brother) |
Masha Gessen is a Russian and American journalist, author, and translator. They are known for writing about politics and equal rights.
Gessen writes mostly in English, but also in Russian. They have written several non-fiction books and have contributed to many famous publications. These include The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair.
Since 2017, Gessen has been a staff writer for The New Yorker. In May 2024, they also became an opinion columnist for The New York Times.
Contents
Early Life and Move to America
Masha Gessen was born into a Jewish family in Moscow, Russia. Their parents were Alexander and Yelena Gessen. Their family had a difficult history, living through major events in 20th-century Europe.
For example, Gessen's grandmothers lived through the rule of Stalin in the Soviet Union and the events of World War II. These family experiences gave Gessen a unique view on history and politics.
In 1981, when Gessen was a teenager, their family moved to the United States. Later, as an adult, Gessen moved back to Moscow in 1996 to work as a journalist. They have citizenship in both Russia and the United States.
Career as a Journalist
Gessen's work often focuses on politics and human rights. For many years, they were involved with organizations that supported equal rights for all people in Moscow.
They also served on the board of PEN America, an organization that supports writers' freedom of speech. Gessen believes strongly in allowing writers with different viewpoints to share their ideas.
Reporting on Russia
Gessen is well known for their articles and books about Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. In a 2008 article for Vanity Fair, Gessen wrote critically about Putin's leadership.
Between 2011 and 2013, Gessen wrote many articles for The New York Times about new laws in Russia. They also wrote about the challenges faced by journalists in the country.
In 2013, a Russian politician mentioned Gessen's family in interviews while promoting a law that limited the adoption of Russian children by foreigners.
Leaving a Russian Magazine
In September 2012, Gessen was the chief editor of Vokrug sveta, a popular Russian science magazine. Gessen was asked to send a reporter to cover a nature event with President Putin.
Gessen felt the event was more about politics than about the environment and refused to send a reporter. Because of this, they were dismissed from their job. After Gessen posted about it online, President Putin called them and offered them their job back. Gessen decided not to accept the offer.
Return to the U.S.
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In December 2013, Gessen decided to move back to the United States. They were concerned about new laws in Russia that could affect families like theirs.
Gessen worried that the government could interfere with their family because of their activism and public statements. An adoption lawyer advised them that it would be safer to leave the country. Gessen felt they had to move to protect their family.
After returning to the U.S., Gessen worked as a translator for the TV show The Americans. They have also taught at several colleges, including Bard College and Amherst College.
Disagreement with the Russian Government
In 2023, the Russian government opened a criminal case against Gessen. They were accused of spreading "false information" about the Russian army's actions in Ukraine. This happened after Gessen spoke about events in the Ukrainian city of Bucha during an interview.
In December 2023, Gessen's name was placed on Russia's wanted list. In July 2024, a Russian court found them guilty while they were not present and sentenced them to prison.
Personal Life
Gessen is nonbinary and trans. They use they/them pronouns. Gessen has three children: two sons and a daughter.
In 2020, Gessen shared that they are nonbinary. They said that as a young child, they wished they could be a boy. Their parents were very supportive. When speaking Russian, Gessen uses verb forms that match the female gender, as this is a feature of the language.
Books by Masha Gessen
Gessen has written many important books. Here are a few of them.
The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin
Published in 2012, this book tells the story of how Vladimir Putin came to power. It also gives an overview of modern Russian politics. The book was praised for being well-written and clear. The Guardian called it "luminous," which means shining or full of light.
Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of ... Riot
This 2014 book is about the Russian protest art group ... Riot. Reviewers said the book showed the group's courage. The Washington Post called it an "excellent" book that gave a "brilliant account" of the group's story.
The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy
This book was published in 2015. It looks into the lives of Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the two brothers responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing.
See also
- LGBT rights in Russia
- Russia under Vladimir Putin
