The feminist movement has a historical journey of several centuries of demands and development of theories to explain reality, and there are many thinkers who have made very relevant contributions to the fight for the emancipation of women.
Currently There are many leading authors in the field of feminist literature but all of them are indebted to the path taken by their predecessors.
Recommended books about feminism (for readers of all types)
If you are interested in knowing which are the most notable books on feminism, check out this selection of novels and essays.
1. A Room of Your Own
Virginia Woolf is another of the most recommended feminist writers of the 20th century and one of the most prominent authors of the Anglo-Saxon modernist movement at the beginning of the century.
This essay is the result of a compendium of conferences given by the author in 1928 and in it she vindicates rights such as the economic and ideological independence of women.
2. Feminism for Beginners
“Feminism for Beginners” is a journey through 3 centuries of the history of feminism in which the different proposals, theories and currents that have emerged within the movement are summarized, and how the different feminist leaders have achieved fundamental changes.
This is a fundamental work of introduction to feminism, suitable for all those who want a global vision of the historical movement, as well as its main representatives.
Why are Marxism and Feminism said to be incompatible? where does radical feminism come from? Why are feminists treated as ugly, tomboys or sexually dissatisfied? These and other questions find their answer in “Feminism for beginners”, by Nuria Varela.
3. We Should All Be Feminists
The Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the main references of feminism currently. Her direct, insightful and humorous style make her an excellent speaker and thanks to her international speaking engagements she has gained great popularity in recent years.
“We should all be feminists” is based on a highly successful TED talk that the author gave in 2012 and in this essay we will find a summary of what it means to be a feminist in the 21st century.
Chimamanda Ngozi exposes the keys to improving the education of our children, presents the role of today’s women in feminism and proposes a series of changes to improve today’s world.
4. The Handmaid’s Tale
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” by Margaret Atwood, is one of the most successful and outstanding literary references in feminism from the end of the 20th century.
This dystopian novel has gained great popularity since its most recent television adaptation, but the truth is that since its publication in 1985 it was an absolute success, becoming the author’s most important work.
The work places us in an authoritarian future in which the reproductive capacity of lower-class women is exploited due to widespread infertility among the wealthy classes.
If you want to know more about this work, click here.
5. Pride and Prejudice
Is about one of the most famous books by the British novelist Jean Austen who published it in 1813 when she was barely 20 years old and anonymously, due to her condition as a woman.
In this classic, Austen presents us with the vicissitudes of the Bennet family and their five marriageable daughters, and how they are all desperate to find a husband to support them except one, Elizabeth.
“Pride and Prejudice” is considered one of the first romantic comedies in the history of literature, and also as one of the first feminist novels ever written, due to its deepening into the psyche of the protagonist, who at all times vindicates her own tastes and needs, to the detriment of the established social norm.
On this page you will find more information.
6. Educate in Feminism
In “Educating in feminism”, Iria Marañón presents us a complete guide on the importance of educating boys and girls when it comes to having people in the future who are tolerant, aware and committed to improving the world.
Games, socialization and children’s cultural references shape children’s minds from a young age. And in the same way that discrimination and machismo are learned, we can also be educated in feminism, solidarity and justice.
Here is more information about the book.
7. The myth of Beauty
“The myth of beauty” is considered one of the summit essays in feminist literature of the late 20th century
The prestigious feminist author Naomi Wolf published this work in 1990 and in it Wolf analyzes the importance of physical appearance in modern women and the concept of beauty as a whole. She also highlights the oppression exerted on women precisely because of the dictatorship of beauty and physical appearance.
You can purchase it on this page.
8. Dear Ijeawele or How to Educate in Feminism
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is also the author of this book, an emotional letter about how to educate in feminism, addressed to a young woman who has just become a mother
In this work, Adichie offers a list of 15 pieces of advice, in which she vindicates the importance of raising children to overcome machismo.
Here you will find more information about this work.
9. Feminist Gathered Games
Ana Galvañ and Patricia Escalona have written this entertaining feminist book presented in the form of a workbook and fun games with which to delve deeper into the most necessary ideas.
With this book you will learn the basic theoretical concepts about feminism and recognize the effects of patriarchy suffered by women, and to a lesser extent, men.
If you are interested in purchasing it or learning more about it, click here.
