6 Feminist Books Everyone Who Wants Gender Equality Should Read

Feminism and being a feminist is about nothing less or more than calling out for gender inequality and disparity in public places. It’s about wanting gender equality in all and every nook and corner of this world.

If you’re someone who has just started their journey on feminism and wants to become a feminist themselves then you’re just at the right place. No matter how much the ease of access Google provides to the inner-researcher in us, there are just some things and topics that can never be replaced by books. Which is why there’s no better way to get educated, get angry, get inspired and get impassioned than by cracking open a book.

We have accumulated 6 feminist books that will draw you in with quality writing and even more compelling stories. These books will provide you an easy and comprehensive access to a place which provides solutions to issues half of the world faces every day.

Check out these 6 feminist books for your next reading adventure.

1. Women Who Run With The Wolves (1992) – by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

This indeed is a fascinating read in which the author examines different archetypes of women found in worldwide mythology. The author is looking for that wild and bold girl in all of these mythologies and the myths that come associated with this particular archetype.

This book is perfect for all women who have struggled through life because of the pressures and pre-tailored expectations of their families, societies and almost everyone around them.

2. Feminism Is For Everybody (2000) – by Bell Hooks

Bell Hooks is a cultural critic and through his 2000 Feminism Is For Everybody, he offers an open-hearted and welcoming vision of gender, sexuality and society. This is considered to be a primer for modern day intersectional feminism and clears the facts right about the movement.

3. A Room Of One’s Own (1929) – by Virginia Woolf

If you’re just starting on the journey of reading about feminism then it will be the finest start to your journey. This literary essay by Woolf, who is considered one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century, she explores the history of women’s role in creating literature. It’s a quick read and before you even know it, you’ll end up with a great knowledge about how hard have always had in literature. In one of the segments of the book, Woolf famously imagines Shakespeare’s sister Judith, who was turned away from her own literary dreams to pursue a more conventional path.

4. Bad Feminist (2014) – by Roxane Gay

Bad Feminist is a collection of essays in which Roxane Gay which are highly insightful and funny. Through these essays, Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman of colour while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years and commenting on the state of feminism today.

5. Men Explain Things To Me (2014) – by Rebecca Solnit

If you’re anywhere near the social media on your day to day lives then you’ll definitely be aware of the term – mansplaining. This is a comic scathing essay in which the author explains what often goes wrong in conversations between a man and woman. This essay collection goes on to discuss the grisly prevalence of domestic abuse, the writing of Virginia Woolf, and the work that still needs to be done in the women’s rights movement.

6. Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman (2017) – by Anne Helen Petersen

Strong and independent women often come with a too prefix whenever someone is talking about them. It happens in classes, offices and the same happens in Hollywood, however, through this book Petersen takes an analytical look at how female celebrities are pushing boundaries of what it means to be an “acceptable” woman.

These 6 feminist books are some of the best reads we have gone through in the recent past and if there’s one thing anyone could take away from them, then it has to be the need of feminism in our society. No one wants to rise above anyone but rather wants to be considered equal to their male equivalents.

Jyotsna Amla