10 Empowering Feminist Books that Will Broaden Your Perspective

March is Women’s History Month, but it’s always a good time to read empowering and inspirational feminist books, regardless of what your calendar says.

There are lots of misconceptions about feminism that confuse both men and women about the movement’s true goals. The reality is that feminism seeks a more equal and just world for all, and you can learn more about those efforts and better understand the struggles of real women by educating yourself with eye-opening reads.

10 Eye-Opening Feminist Books

Below are 10 excellent feminist books that will broaden your perspective and help you to better understand the unique struggles that women of all backgrounds endure.

1. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This book offers the perfect introduction for people of all genders and backgrounds who want to understand more about feminism in the 21st century.

This personal essay was adapted from the popular TEDx talk of the same name, and in it Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers readers a unique and modern definition of feminism rooted in inclusion and awareness.

2. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay’s favorite color is pink, she reads Vogue (not ironically), and she’s even live-tweeted the September issue.

These are just some of the things you’ll learn about this modern feminist, who uses this collection of funny and insightful essays to take readers on a journey through her evolution as a woman as she comments on the state of feminism today.

3. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

Described as “the antidote to mansplaining,” Rebecca Solnit’s comic yet scathing essays offer an insightful look at what often goes wrong in communication between men and women, particularly when men wrongly assume they know things that women don’t.

The book also covers topics such as rape, marriage, and the erasure of women from history, as well as an essay written in response to the 2014 Isla Vista killings and the grassroots movement that it incited in an effort to end misogyny and violence against women.

4. The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

Today, women have more power, legal recognition, and professional success than ever before, and even more progress has been made since this book was first published in 2002.

However, while we have witnessed greater social awareness and commitment to change, writer and journalist Naomi Wolf warns against a different kind of social control—the beauty myth—which traps modern women in a spiral of self-consciousness and self-hatred as they try to meet society’s impossible standards of “flawless beauty.”

5. Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

Hood Feminism offers an important critique of contemporary feminist movements by pointing out its “glaring blind spots,” particularly when it comes to minorities and marginalized communities.

Kendall argues that basic needs such as food security, access to quality education and medical care, safe neighborhoods, and a living wage are too often ignored when feminism is discussed through a privileged, often white and heteronormative, lens.

6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Though not often recognized as a feminist staple, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women was ahead of its time in the way it depicted the independent, bold, and often unconventional March girls in the 1860s.

The book follows Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they grow, find love, and pursue their dreams, showing readers that there are many ways to be a woman.

7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

This bestseller-turned-Emmy-winning television series follows Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and is set in the near-future.

The dystopian feminist novel follows Offred, a member of the female servant class forced to serve as reproductive vessels for the ruling class. It’s hard not to see the connection to our current time, where women’s reproductive rights remain politically contentious.

8. Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

Originally published in 1984, Audre Lorde’s famous essay collection remains a standard of Black Feminism. Spanning 15 essays and speeches, Lorde tackles issues of sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and class.

She also explores anger, the role of poetry in activism, and her own experiences as a Black lesbian in America, while calling out white feminism for excluding Black women.

9. Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

Author and trans activist Janet Mock has made it her life’s work to break ground for underrepresented women.

In this memoir, she traces her own growth as a multiracial transwoman from a poor upbringing to one of the country’s most respected advocates.

10. the witch doesn’t burn in this one by Amanda Lovelace

This is Goodreads Choice Award-winning poet Amanda Lovelace’s second book in her “women are some kind of magic” series. 

In this installment, Lovelace’s powerful and deeply relatable poems contemplate the witch—powerful, independent, and now indestructible—to encourage women to stay resilient and take control of their own narratives.

What Are the 3 Types of Feminism?

Feminism has traditionally been divided into three main schools of thought: liberal or mainstream feminism, radical feminism, and socialist/Marxist feminism.

Liberal or “mainstream” feminism dates back to the social contract theory that originated with the American Revolution. It aims to work within the structure of mainstream society to ensure that women are fairly integrated into that structure.   

Radical feminism is most closely associated with the civil rights and peace movements of 1967-1968. It aims to dismantle the patriarchy and reorder society in a way that male supremacy is eliminated in virtually all contexts, while recognizing that women’s experiences are impacted differently based on a variety of factors, including race, class, and sexual orientation.

Socialist or Marxist feminism builds on Marxist theory and analyzes the ways women are exploited through capitalism.

While these are the three main divisions of feminist thought, contemporary feminism continues to evolve as many have called for a more inclusive approach that serves every race, sexual orientation, and gender identity while recognizing the unique challenges that different women face and acknowledging the privileges of some over others.

Who Is the Most Famous Feminist?

Although many brave women have fought the good fight before and after her, Gloria Steinem is widely considered the most “famous” feminist thanks to her high-profile work in the women’s lib movement starting in the 1960s.

In 1969, Steinem published an article in New York Magazine titled, “After Black Power, Women’s Liberation,” which brought her to the forefront as a contemporary feminist leader.

Read Books to Broaden Your Perspective

Reading books written by or about people who are different from you is a great way to broaden your perspective.

Anyone can and should read feminist books to better understand the struggles that women of all races and backgrounds have endured. Similarly, you don’t have to wait for Black History Month to celebrate Black authors, or learn more about the importance of diversity in literature.

Do you have a favorite feminist book or author? Share your favorite with us in the comments below!

 

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• 14 Feminist Poems to Inspire Strong Women
• Writing Women: How to Write Better Female Characters
• 12 Female Literary Characters Who Are More Than Damsels in Distress
• 19 Great Books About Strong Women

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