International Women’s Day falls on March 8th, and what better way to celebrate the global movement than by collating the best feminist books? If you’re looking for your next read, then look no further!
Note – this list is not extensive! There are so many amazing feminist books, but these are just a few of my favourites.
Non-fiction Feminist Favourites:
Airhead: The imperfect art of making news by Emily Maitlis
As a young journalist, I couldn’t miss out this fascinating glimpse into what making news is all about. If you’re looking for something that’s enjoyable, funny and insightful then look no further. The decision to include this book in a feminist list might seem like a strange one, but Maitlis is an inspiration for many young women looking to enter the media industry, so to me, it seemed quite fitting.
Household Workers Unite by Premilla Nadasen
This powerful and timely book shares stories of the 1960/1970’s domestic worker activism. For someone who didn’t know much about the African-American domestic worker community, it was a really educational and informative read which offered me new perspectives on issues such as race, class and labour.
”The book aims to deconstruct the myths surrounding beauty”
The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf
I first came across this book in my Media Studies class, and it has since been one of my favourite reads which looks at how images of beauty are used against women. The book aims to deconstruct the myths surrounding beauty, and in doing so gives a changed perspective of the world around us.
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Her globally inspirational Ted Talk of the same name has been adapted into an eloquently-argued essay, that is a must read for everyone. Adichie has a brilliant way with words, and this book serves to inspire everyone to become feminists.
Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions by Gloria Steinem
Ever since I attended a Hay Festival talk with Gloria Steinem, I have been in awe of her work as a feminist activist. This book is a perfect example of why her work is so highly regarded – it’s a collection of essays providing an educational insight into the history of sexism. Although a little out-dated now, I still think it’s a great read.
Fiction Feminist Favourites:
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
This classic dystopian novel raises many questions about the status, role and treatment of women in the modern world, therefore making it the perfect read to mark International Women’s Day. Additionally, the numerous critical essays offer further feminist interpretations of the work.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Written by feminist writer and poet, The Bell Jar is a powerful book that deals with feminist issues such as those of power, identity and the sexual double standard. In my opinion, it’s an informative reflection of gender roles in the 1950’s.
”What I liked best was that the feminism in this book is quiet”
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I had to include this beloved classic novel as it’s such a heart-warming and touching book. What I liked best was that the feminism in this book is quiet, in that it might not seem like a feminist book at first look. However, there are definitely little touches that make it a great feminist read.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Would it really be a feminist book list if I didn’t include this iconic novel? No, I didn’t think so! When reading this book, my thoughts were that it teaches society about the dangers of gender stereotyping and, by arguing that women’s lives are worthy of examination, it definitely deserves to be on this list.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The last book I’ve chosen to include is one that I studied in English Literature. It was the first epistolary novel that I’ve ever read, and it deals with the lives of African-American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. The theme of sisterhood is one that runs throughout the novel, and is also a key idea in modern day feminism which is why I wanted to include it on this list.
I’m going to end the list there otherwise I could go on forever!
Happy International Women’s Day and happy reading 🙂
Holly Hostettler-Davies
Featured image courtesy of freestocks via Unsplash. No changes made to this image. Image license found here.