Absolutely Essential Feminist Reads

At the close of Women’s History Month, I can’t help but think of how important it is to continue to share the inspiring stories of women all year round. To know how far we’ve come, we must know the history of our foremothers before us. To be as inclusive and understanding of intersectional feminism as we possibly can, we must hear from women of all different perspectives — from race and socioeconomic status to sexuality and gender identity. To build a better world based on gender equity, we must uplift and champion the great work of womenkind, while also recognizing the issues and challenges we still face. Our push for progress is nothing without education.

Here are my personal favorite reads— both fiction and nonfiction — that I believe are absolutely essential for feminists everywhere:

The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss

We wouldn’t have the ability to make decisions about our own lives if it weren’t for the suffragettes. This book provides a deep dive into the fight to ratify the 19th Amendment and makes you even more appreciative of your right to vote thanks to the literal blood, sweat, and tears of these courageous women.

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

As one of the most influential feminists and activists of the 20th century, Simone de Beauvoir provides a well-researched background and analysis of the history of women’s inequality and gives a masterclass in gender constructs and theory.

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan

Nearing 60 years since its publication, this book is still just as relevant today as it was in 1963. Credited with sparking the second wave of feminism in the U.S. at the time, this text pushed back against the traditional gender roles of women and highlighted the discontent of women in that period who were unsatisfied with living up to societal standards of housework, sexual passivity, and mothering — instead aspiring to careers, higher education, and a voice in the political world. This book is widely considered a theoretical foundation for much of modern-day feminism and is a required read for women’s studies.

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

At the turn of the 20th century, protagonist Edna Pontellier seeks individuality and freedom — both personal, artistic, and sexual — from male subjugation and the societal expectations for women. Her journey of self-discovery leads her to adopt a ‘masculine’ lifestyle and ends with an emancipation of sorts — a liberating albeit tumultuous and widely-debated conclusion.

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A standout in gothic Victorian literature, this novel tells the story of a woman driven to madness after being diagnosed with ‘hysteria’ and sent away live in solitude with no activity or outside interaction. This book was based on Gilman’s own experience with the ‘rest cure’ prescribed by her doctor, Weir Mitchell, and was written as a form of protest against the treatment of women for the now-debunked condition of hysteria.

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf was a true pioneer for women in literature. This essay, based on two of Woolf’s college lectures in 1928, argues against the patriarchal domination of men in education and the field of literature, highlighting the marginalization of female writers and authors — not due to a lack of talent, but rather a lack of opportunity.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

This 1950s coming-of-age novel highlights the triumphs and struggles of Esther Greenwood who attempts to find meaning in the conventional expectations for women. The story showcases the unending strength and survival of this heroine as she progresses into adulthood, attempts suicide, and goes through psychiatric treatment for her depression, which was worsened by the social mores of the time.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

It’s no surprise that the revolutionary Toni Morrison received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for this published work. Morrison was inspired by the true story of Margaret Garner, a runaway slave who fled to freedom in Cincinnati. Margaret was later captured in accordance with the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and ended up killing her own daughter to protect her from being returned to a life of slavery. ‘Beloved’ explores the conflicts of gender and racial discrimination, as well as the psychological toll of slavery on identity.

Our Bodies, Ourselves by The Boston Women’s Health Collective

I’m fairly certain every girl since the seventies has seen a copy of this book on their mother’s bookshelf and bore witness to its knowledge during that inevitable mother-daughter discussion of ‘the change’ and the ‘birds and the bees.’ A practical evidence-based text on the reproductive health and sexuality of women.

My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem

We can’t talk about feminism without Gloria Steinem. As a feminist journalist and socio-political activist, Steinem became a figurehead for the women’s movement in the 60s and 70s. This witty book follows her own personal growth, as well as the progress of the movement for equality.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Through sharing her own experiences and the stories of relatable universal injustices, Adichie tears apart stereotypes that have long been associated with the term ‘feminism,’ while also emphasizing the importance of women of color in the movement who often feel abandoned and left out of the conversation. Her work defines what it means to be an intersectional, inclusive feminist in the 21st century.

My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

One of my personal she-roes, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, shares insight into the inner workings of the Supreme Court and her life’s work fighting for equality with this deep dive collection of excerpts from her published writings. As the first female tenured professor at Columbia University and only the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, her landmarks dissents allowed women to be admitted to state-funded schools, gave women the ability to sign a mortgage or have a bank account without a male co-signer, provided women with the right to choice, prevented pregnant women from being fired in the workplace, made strides toward equal pay for women, and protected the rights and equality of women in the LQBTQIA+ community.

Ain’t I A Woman?: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks

This book masterfully analyzes the history of black feminism and the relationship between many different forms of oppression — from sexism throughout slavery, to the devaluing of black womanhood, to racism within the women’s movement.

Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by bell hooks

Oh, you thought we were done discussing the awesomeness of bell hooks? Oh no, my friend. Three years later in 1983, bell hooks expands her work from ‘Ain’t I A Woman?’ by continuing her exploration of sexual politics from her perspective as a black woman in ‘Feminist Theory.’ In this book, hooks challenges the women’s liberation movement, arguing that the movement doesn’t account for the full complexity of the female experience — incomplete without the voices and diverse perspective of women of color — and that we cannot look at feminism without viewing it from the lens of intersectionality.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

We cannot talk about the female perspective, specifically the black female perspective, without mentioning the ‘phenomenal woman’ herself, Maya Angelou. Maya was subject to many traumas in her young life — from her abuse and rape at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend to her selective mutism to her struggles as a single mother and hardships dealing with poverty. Through it all, she learned to soar, finding her strength and voice in the world. This unique autobiography shows how experiences of racism, sexism, and inequality can shape identity.

In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose by Alice Walker

We would be remiss to discuss Black feminism without mentioning the woman who coined the term ‘womanist,’ Alice Walker. Most know her for her seminal work, The Color Purple, which I also highly recommend for the powerful way it tackles race and racism, its exploration of gender roles and sexuality, and themes of self-discovery in the face of trauma. ‘In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens’ is one of Walker’s underrated works. In this collection of essays she speaks of unsung heroes and defines womanist theory, proving that “womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.”

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were the unsung heroes of the space race, with Mary Jackson becoming the first African American female engineer at NASA. ‘Hidden Figures’ tells the story of these three out-of-this-world inspiring women whose brains, calculations, and innovation helped John Glenn orbit the Earth and advanced space travel for many years and missions to follow.

Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II by Liza Mundy

You probably didn’t hear about this hidden chapter in women’s history when you were in school. ‘Code Girls’ tells the story of the secret female codebreakers who played a crucial role in ending World War II. These women shaped the world while challenging gender roles and advancing the role of women in Washington.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

If you’re looking for a fictional read that spooks you to your core, look no further than ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ This dystopian novel imagines a world completely taken over by a patriarchal totalitarian state where women are forced to produce children for the ruling class of men. With the state of America since its last presidency, this novel is more relevant than ever and hits so close to home that perhaps it would be best if you didn’t read it right before bedtime at the risk of inducing red-caped nightmares.

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

This coming-of-age novel is a must-read for all young women. Smith solely focuses on her female protagonists who rely on one another for the strength and support they need to persevere in the face of life’s challenges. ‘A Tree Grows In Brooklyn’ is best known for delving into themes with gritty realism — gender, sex, sexual violence, menstruation, education, class, and poverty.