20 Books that Spark the Conversation Around Feminism
One Life by Megan Rapinoe: Acclaimed soccer player Megan Rapinoe may be a force on the field with the gold medals and World Championships to prove it, but she’s also made a name for herself off the field, speaking out against gender discrimination and suing the U.S. Soccer Federation, among many other instances of fighting injustice. One Life is her reflection on these (and many other) unapologetic decisions. Girl Gurl Grrrl by Kenya Hunt: As more Black women are represented in political offices, in media, in publishing and in the boardroom, the question remains: What does it mean to be a Black woman in the 2000s? Hunt unpacks this complicated question in her essay collection Girl Gurl Grrrl: On Womanhood and Belonging in the Age of Black Girl Magic. Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall: Kendall’s best-seller exposes feminism’s blind spot, critiquing how the movement has failed Black women. She argues how feminism cannot achieve its true potential until it fights for all women, including those who need food security and safe neighborhoods before they can lean in and fight for a seat at the executive table. Life and Other Shortcomings by Corie Adjmi: Featuring 12 stories about women in various cities and eras, each share a connection to one another. And you’re along for the journey as they reveal certain truths about the female experience. It’s an anthem, and also a cry for change. Bad Feminist: Essays by Roxane Gay: If Gay’s essays teach us one thing, it’s the importance of continuing to evolve our ideas and to understand how the culture and politics we consume affect those ideas. There’s a tiny line that runs between how you see yourself as a woman and how you’re reflected in pop culture, and it’s very easy to blur. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: An extension of her TEDx talk, also titled “We Should All Be Feminists,” Adichie digs deeper into her personal experience and argues why feminism is for everyone, exploring the realities of sexual politics and its role in all of our lives. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: Of course, not all required feminist reading is nonfiction. The Bell Jar has long defined Sylvia Plath’s legacy, and it’s a novel that brings you into the haunting psyche of one woman amidst a breakdown. Traditional gender roles are a central theme as Esther Greenwood spirals into depression and psychosis, and you’ll find plenty of feminist issues to unpack. The Bluest Eyeby Toni Morrison: Morrison’s first novel, The Bluest Eye, does not disappoint, exploring the damage that comes from a culture’s obsession with a singular view of beauty. Like many young girls, Pecola Breedlove wants to fit in. Instead, she’s mocked for being different, for being Black. And the more she yearns to look like her peers, the more you begin to question what’s hurting her most—her peers’ words or the inner narrative that’s taking hold as a result. Untamedby Glennon Doyle: While Doyle’s essays in Untamed span trips to the zoo, the things we Google and her child’s soccer games, the question that’s central to all of these stories is, “Who are you when you stop trying to be what others expect you to be?” Doyle finally chose the version of herself she always knew she was, and through this collection of essays, she shows other women what can happen when they start following their inner voice, too. The Day of the Duchessby Sarah MacLean: A historical romance re-written after the 2016 election, The Day of the Dutchess is about a woman trying to obtain a divorce from her husband, an action that required an act of Parliament in 1836. Romance is the core, but this is also feminist text about a woman trying to reclaim her power. Era of Ignition: Coming of Age in a Time of Rage and Revolution by Amber Tamblyn: Like many young women, Amber Tamblyn found herself tamed and guided by a fear of rejection. So how did she become the bold and outspoken woman she is today? Self-reflection. In Era of Ignition, she explores how reflection leads to action, which leads to change, leaning on stories of her personal experiences with misogyny and discrimination. Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House by Molly Dillon: Who run the world? Girls. With those Beyonce lyrics in mind, here are 10 stories about 10 women in the Obama white house who helped do exactly that. From planning summits to advocating on Capitol Hill, they checked off significant accomplishments like it was their job. And it was their job. In Yes She Can, they recall their experiences, offer advice to their younger selves, and inspire the next generation of girls to step into their spotlight. Purple Lotus by Veena Rao: An arranged marriage, traumatic childhood and revived young love all make up the plot of Purple Lotus. The lead character, Tara, suffers abandonment issues from her parents and abuse at her husband’s hands. But when she discovers true love, she’ll have to face her fears and find her self-worth. Can she crawl herself out of the hole the world has put her in? The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates: The title says it all: Society suffers when it pushes women aside. Melinda Gates has traveled the world, attempting to solve some of our most pressing issues, including women’s reproductive rights and gender inequality. In The Moment of Lift, she shares how she fought for equality in her marriage and what she’s learned from women who empower other women. Becoming by Michelle Obama: Former President Barack Obama has famously referred to himself as ‘Michelle’s Husband,’ and Becoming only solidifies Michelle Obama as a force. She takes us through her journey as the first African American first lady, and every trial and tribulation that she experienced before the White House, during her husband’s presidency and after, becoming one of the world’s most compelling icons. Conversations with RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law by Jeffrey Rosen: Rosen, a journalist and scholar, brings a lifetime of conversations with RBG to life in this book. As you’re grieving the American icon, there may be no better way to honor her life than to experience her through the eyes of someone who witnessed her compassion, humor and tough-as-nails mentality first-hand over the years. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit: Solnit’s collection of seven small-but-mighty essays is an extension of her original article titled ‘Men Explain Things to Me.’ It’s a direct and straightforward exploration of what happens when men assume women don’t know things, plus other misogynist behavior that’s become all too commonplace. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf: In Virginia Woolf’s classic essay, she explores Shakespeare’s fictional, forgotten sister and why she never reached the heights her brother achieved. The answer is quite simple: Without money and a room of her own, it’s much harder to forge a legacy. Equal talent does not equal opportunity. Feminism is for Everybody by Bell Hooks: In many ways, Feminism is for Everybody is an outline for feminist theory. Author Bell Hooks writes about the patriarchy, racism, homophobia, reproductive rights, race, class and more through a feminist lens. She lends optimism and simplicity to harrowing topics, framing them as everyone’s issues, not just women’s issues. This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America by Morgan Jerkins: Objectified, muted and marginalized, Jerkins begins to answer controversial and complex issues about what it feels like and is like to exist as a Black woman in America. She does it with a heavy dose of honesty that makes this a must-read for anyone taking the time and putting in the effort to learn about the Black experience. Next, best memoirs of 2020.
