Espresso
20 feminist books everyone should read
Posted: 19 April 2024 | Last updated: 19 April 2024
20 feminist books everyone should read
From pioneers of feminist thought to tongue-in-cheek influencers with fresh perspectives on gender equality, the authors who shared their thought-provoking and change-making ideas on women’s issues are some of the most brilliant thinkers of our time. Some were vilified for their “controversial ideas” on women’s liberation and autonomy, and others were trolled online for their feminist perspectives. Each of the authors devoted their time, work, and social capital to advocate for equal opportunities, fight against injustice, and advance gender equality. Whether through extensive research and data or lived experience and historical context, these transformative feminist books can empower us to take action together toward building a more inclusive, equitable world in which we all win. Here are 20 feminist books everyone should read.
Women & Power (2017)
A manifesto by bestselling author, professor, and influencer Mary Beard, Women & Power traces the roots of misogyny back to ancient times, going as far back as Homer’s Odyssey. From the Roman and Elizabethan eras to the present day, she illustrates how women have been silenced in public spaces and discouraged from rising to positions of power. Beard asks us all to encourage and empower more women to step into their leadership and redefine male-dominated structures of power.
Men Explain Things to Me (2014)
Inspiring the term “mansplaining,” Rebecca Solnit’s Men Explain Things to Me dissects the conversations that go wrong between genders and how this ignites misunderstandings and misogyny, further fuelling inequality. This collection of essays from author, historian, and contributing editor Solnit starts with hilarious accounts of exchanges between men and women and concludes with a serious statement about the devastating implications of silencing women, especially in cases of the fatal 2014 Isla Vista killings.
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot (2020)
In a searing critique of the mainstream feminist movement, author Mikki Kendall addresses the oversight that excluded the basic needs of marginalized and racialized women. Through the perspective of a Black woman with lived experience of hunger, violence, and racism, this book fills in the much-needed gaps in several feminist texts by providing an intersectional lens that is crucial to advancing women’s rights.
Bad Feminist (2014)
A commentary on the state of feminism today peppered in with Roxane Gay’s signature style of storytelling takes us through her journey as a woman of colour reconciling the culture she grew up in with her own identity. This collection of essays reveals a common conflict many of us faced when we feel like we don’t quite belong. In Gay’s candid essays about gender, race, entertainment, politics, and everything in between, she admits she is a “flawed” feminist who is stumbling through this life in the most relatable ways.
Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability & More (2021)
Whether you’re well-versed in the language and context of social justice or are committed to learning more, this book, authored by historian, influencer, and educator Blair Imani is a great resource. Not only does Imani’s “Smarter in Seconds” YouTube channel offer snackable ways to learn about feminist issues like the wage gap, fatphobia, microaggressions at work, or pronouns, but Read This to Get Smarter delivers these non-judgmental explainers in a warm, empathetic manner, making it the ideal bedside reference for all.
We Should All Be Feminists (2014)
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a renowned Nigerian novelist who captivated audiences with the very popular TEDx Talk that inspired this book. Adichie addresses the stereotypes that “feminists” face outside the Western world, where this term is an undesirable label used to marginalize women. By shining a light on discrimination and systemic barriers that marginalize women, she makes the case for why the gender divide is detrimental to all of us and how each of us can embrace feminism to create a more inclusive, equitable world.
Abolition. Feminism. Now. (2022)
In Abolition. Feminism. Now, the leading feminists of our time call for us to act with urgency against police brutality, suggesting its deeply rooted connection with gender inequality. Angela Davis, Gina Dent, Erica Meiners, and Beth Richie, all powerful activists and scholars who have lent their brilliance to the fight for social justice and equality, take us through the movements, battles, and grassroots revolutions that have helped define abolitionist and feminist thought in our current day. In this book, they sternly yet fairly lay out the actions we can take for a future where we all can shine.
The Second Sex (1949)
Banned by the Vatican, Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex may have caused controversy for its views on faith and abortion, but this also made her tome a classical feminist book everyone should read. Through her contributions, French philosopher and activist Beauvoir laid the basis for modern feminist theory and gender studies. The title refers to the “othering” of women in a male-dominated society where they exist in opposition to men rather than as people with full autonomy.
Invisible Women (2019)
Award-winning campaigner and writer Caroline Criado Perez exposes a different side of inequality that has recently evolved in the digital age—the gender data gap. Through research, case studies, and stories, Invisible Women reveals the data biases that exclude women, leading to inequalities that exist within the building blocks of society, from urban planning to medical research. This exclusion further exacerbates inequalities and this book helps expose those injustices, leading to a greater awareness.
Fat is a Feminist Issue (1978)
It’s been more than 40 years since Susie Orbach wrote the feminist classic Fat is a Feminist Issue, which highlighted how eating—and not eating—has plagued women for years. However, the views expressed in the book continue to be relevant today. In an article for The Guardian, Orbach discusses how recent cultural shifts like the mainstreaming of adult movies and the objectification of pre-teens in the media have made matters worse for women. Orbach, a psychotherapist, writer, and co-founder of The Women's Therapy Centre, invites readers to imagine a model for a different kind of eating that centres on self-love and sustainability.
For the Love of Men (2019)
One of the most damaging by-products of gender inequality is toxic masculinity, which directly impacts women but is also detrimental to men. This is illustrated through both qualitative and quantitative research by one of the prominent feminist voices of our day, Liz Plank, in For the Love of Men. In this insightful book, Plank provides a guide on what we, as a society, can do to transform gender roles and abolish toxic masculinity, which will lead to stronger and more equitable systems, organizations, communities, and relationships.
Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics (2000)
Through a common-sense lens of equality, justice, and mutual respect, bell hooks discusses critical women’s issues like reproductive rights, violence, race, class, and work. Feminism Is for Everybody is an introduction to feminism for people from all walks of life, as it transforms sometimes abstract concepts into more palatable, digestible ideas. The influential and pioneering feminist author invites readers to confront the patriarchal, homophobic, and racist systems that hurt our communities rather than help them thrive.
Asian American Feminisms and Women of Color Politics (2018)
This academic approach to politics and gender explores the intersection of cross-racial feminism, visibility politics, and Asian American involvement in feminist activism. This complex series of essays, edited by Lynn Fujiwara and Shireen Roshanravan, emphasizes the unique struggles and challenges Asian American women face within the existing feminist framework. According to one review, this book highlights how politics, histories of resistance, and entire Pacific Islander communities have been either misrepresented, forgotten, or erased in the mainstream feminist discourse. This book amplifies the powerful voices of Asian American women in the fight for gender equality.
Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (1983)
When speaking about this book, feminist icon Gloria Steinem said she wishes it wasn’t still relevant today with its discussions about pay inequality, harassment, and other societal challenges women face. Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions is a collection of essays, written through Steinem’s authentic feminist lens, that juxtapose serious topics like genital mutilation with humorous satirical pieces like “If Men Could Menstruate.” This well-balanced approach to feminist thought offers a kaleidoscope of areas in which gender inequalities have slowed our progress as a society.
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle (2019)
Those who have experienced burnout are well aware of the toll it takes on the body and mind. However, what science and the media haven’t always been clear on is how it impacts women at a deeper level due to the systemic and societal pressures they face. In Burnout, sisters Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, use science and research to prescribe ways that women can rise above and fight back against the hustle culture that the authors suggest causes this stress cycle in the first place.
The Book of Gutsy Women (2019)
A collaborative compilation of stories curated by Hillary Rodham Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, The Book of Gutsy Women celebrates the resilience and courage of women from across the world. What makes this collection of stories a feminist book everyone should read is how each story amplifies the strength, brilliance, and impact these women have made as they battled the systems that tried to keep them down. The authors elevate the experiences of storytellers like Maya Angelou, athletes like Billie Jean King, changemakers like Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad, and elected officials like Wilma Mankiller.
Indigenous Women and Feminism: Politics, Activism, Culture (2010)
Through the powerful lens of Indigenous feminism, this award-winning book challenges readers to redefine gender equality in the contexts of decolonization, claims to land, and the ongoing violence against women from marginalized communities. These essays are essential reading for anyone who wants to learn about the historical roles of Indigenous women, as well as how their activism and contributions to feminism and gender equality have greatly impacted our communities and society today.
Muslim Women Are Everything: Stereotype-Shattering Stories of Courage, Inspiration, and Adventure (2020)
Winner of multiple book awards, this anthology of stories with colourful illustrations hopes to empower readers to recognize and shatter the damaging stereotypes the world has placed on Muslim women. Emmy Award-winning journalist, medical doctor, professor, and author Dr. Seema Yasmin takes an intersectional approach to amplifying the stories of these Muslim women. Featuring icons like congresswoman Ilhan Omar, CoverGirl’s first hijabi ambassador, Nura Afia, and superstar SZA, this is required reading for those who love stories about strong, courageous women who have made valuable contributions to our world.
Rage Becomes Her (2018)
Rage and anger in women is a topic that doesn’t make it to the mainstream very often, especially since it is most times considered “unladylike.” Enter Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly, which argues that anger is one of the ways women can solve the issues that plague their progress. Among the best books of 2018, as selected by the Washington Post, NPR, and several other publications, this feminist reading explores the ways that society undermines women’s anger as a way of limiting and controlling their power. This is one of the feminist books everyone should read precisely because it highlights how gender disparities—in areas like the wage gap or harassment—should spark anger and action in all of us.
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More (2014)
An influential voice in the trans community, Janet Mock invites us on her journey from girlhood to adulthood as a multiracial, marginalized, trans woman in America. This New York Times bestseller powerfully paints a portrait of a woman who defied the confines of culture and society to step into her true self. In this memoir, Mock shares the specific challenges that marginalized communities face, especially at the intersection of race, gender, and ethnicity. Her book is especially welcome during times of social and political polarization as it urges us to gain a greater acceptance of each other and ourselves.
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