By Casey Schellberg
It’s officially March which, since Congress passed the National Women’s History Project petition in 1987, is also Women’s History Month. Whenever I think of history, I think of books. All of our U.S. and World history classes growing up were focused on books, so what better way to learn more about Women and their fight for equality than through reading. Here are four feminist books I think are essential to read this Women’s History Month.
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Although it is only 64 pages, We Should All Be Feminists is one of my favorite informational books that I have read surrounding the topic of feminism. It was the very first book I read about for my psychology of women class last year and I loved how easy it was to understand, something that always gets me when I am learning about a newer topic. The book is a personal essay that offers a 21st century definition of feminism and calls upon everyone to join the feminist rally. If you are looking for a short and enjoyable read, with lots of great personal examples, this is the book for you!
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
A more well-known feminist book, The Handmaid’s Tale is an amazing dystopian novel that shows the extreme of the true reality of life as a woman. The story takes place in a totalitarian regime with strict gender and social roles. Fertile women, known as Handmaids, are used solely for their bodies by men at the top of the hierarchy. The book follows the story of one Handmaid named Offred with hints of her past and the riding of women’s rights. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a fictional option, however, it can get heavy at times. There is also a sequel book and TV series based on the book on Hulu!
Entitled by Kate Manne
Focusing specifically on male entitlement, Kate Manne’s book gives readers a new way to look at misogyny. Her chapters are full of real-life examples that help the reader better understand the concepts of misogyny and entitlement to be able to see them in everyday life. Manne argues that male entitlement is the cause of many phenomena in today’s society, from access to medical care to consent. If you are looking for a feminist book more focused on power and gender, Entitled is a great read!
You Don’t Have to Like Me by Alida Nugent
Showing what it is really like to be a feminist, Nugent’s book of essays shares her personal growth as one. While I have yet to read this book, it seems like a humorous perspective on the everyday struggles of being a woman, covering topics like pregnancy scares. The reviews seem positive and I will definitely be adding it to my reading list this month!
Women’s History often goes unnoticed and unannounced by the media. This Women’s History Month, picking up a few feminist reads can help combat this by educating yourself and others.