As we all know, March is Women’s history month, so I thought it would be the perfect time to put together a list of books, or a starting guide, for someone who is trying to learn more about women’s history and contemporary issues or intersectional feminism. Being a STEM major myself, I was grossly unaware of feminist history, the progression of the women’s movement and what feminism truly means in the modern world. After taking a women’s studies class and doing some independent reading of my own, I realized that my understanding of feminism before this was superficial and that learning about women’s history and issues has helped me better understand the current sociopolitical issues going on in the world. For this reason alone, I recommend at least some light feminist reading to everyone to gain little more awareness of current issues, and hopefully be an ally for women everywhere. So here are a few books to get you started:
1. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
We often see people using the word ‘feminist” as an insult. In this book, Adichie explains why the word feminism is important, and, as the title suggests, why we should all be feminists. This book explores topics like sexism and gender roles, as well as other contemporary topics like the wage gap. This is a relatively new book and is written in a lucid manner, making it an enjoyable and informative read without being too overwhelming.
2. The Feminine Mystique by Betty Freidan
This is the book everyone must read to gain an in-depth understanding of the history of the women’s movement and how it changed women’s lives for the better in the 20th century. It is also a book that marked one of the initial stages of second-wave feminism. The book focuses on how in spite of surge in the number of women getting educated, they are encouraged more for housewifery than for being professionals. Though the book is not relatable to the modern woman of today, it is interesting to see how long women have come in terms of being valued and not shamed for their professional careers.
3. Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti
This book is a collection of short essays or articles on various women’s issues, right from sexual wellness to unrealistic beauty standards and everything in between. Her words are witty and sarcastic and appeal to the modern women of today. Describing contemporary women’s struggles in a fun and sassy way is Valenti’s forte. The short-essay nature of the book makes it a quick and enjoyable read.
4. Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Unlike other books on this list, this is a very engaging novel. What makes this book a feminist reading is that it explores a fictitious dystopian era in which women are used as mere reproductive machines. The book has some blood -curdling details of female oppression, which, according to the author, are not made-up but borrowed from horrific events that have actually happened to women all over the world. This makes the book disturbing yet, in a way, brings awareness to the atrocities that women have had to face since the start of time.
This list of books is definitely not all exhaustive. However, it will get you started and can provide some basic information about women’s issues through the ages. If you enjoy reading these books, there are plenty other resources on similar topics. Happy reading!