5 Feminist Books EVERYONE Needs To Read

By Victoria Robertson on September 30, 2016

Reading can be a chore, especially as a college student that feels overwhelmingly swamped with texts we have to read for classes. However, reading Shakespeare for the umpteenth time isn’t exactly fulfilling our brains.

Sometimes, we just want to read a text that’s teaching us something while simultaneously keeping us entertained (as we have fairly short attention spans when it comes to reading while obtaining a degree).

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I know that a lot of you probably tuned out just in reading the title of this article, but we have a lot to learn from feminist texts, especially for those of us that are more closed-minded to the idea of feminism.

Despite the stigma attached to it, feminism is not “man-hating” or “ranting” or anything of the sort. At least, true feminism isn’t. True feminism has a goal of obtaining equal rights for everyone, not in demeaning a person based on gender.

To give you better perspective (in a much more eloquent way), below are five feminist texts that you need to read in your lifetime.

1. “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” by: Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

I’ll be up front with this one — it’s going to take you some time to get through this book. While it’s very beautifully written, it’s jam-packed with information and  overwhelmingly educational. That being said, this is not going to be a quick, light read.

Still, “Half the Sky” melts elegantly from personal anecdotes and real-life successes and failures to the broader spectrum and factual-based information in regards to oppression around the world. But perhaps what’s done above and beyond in this book is that “Half the Sky” doesn’t presume to know everything.

First of all, the authors use statistics to prove points (while simultaneously describing why these should/should not necessarily be trusted) and then take it one step further in elaborating on why this is/isn’t the case. The journalistic work is well-guided, but you aren’t asked to follow along blindly either.

2. “The Color Purple,” by: Alice Walker

No, watching the movie starring Oprah is not enough. The book was one that I never wanted to read — to me, this was going to be a boring, preachy book that I’m not a huge fan of. However, that’s not what it was at all, much to my surprise.

“The Color Purple” is very, very good at evoking emotion from its readers, whether you want it to or not. It’s brilliant in character development and you really feel like you’re placed in these characters’ lives.

While the main character is frustrating at times, and the dialect can be hard to get through in parts (though not nearly as difficult as the beginning of “The Help”), you put down “The Color Purple” in a good mood, ready for social change.

And to do that with a fictional work is impressive.

3. “My Life on the Road,” by: Gloria Steinem

Disclaimer: this is not going to fit everyone’s taste. That being said, I still think you need to read it.

Gloria Steinem is a known feminist advocate, and everyone has their own opinion on how well she does so. For many, she’s an overbearing, preachy and pushy woman, and to others, she’s a complete inspiration.

No matter your initial thoughts on her when starting the book, you’ll find as you continue reading that she’s at the very least, relatable. She states her opinions very strongly, but you don’t ever feel bombarded. I don’t agree with all of her thoughts, and yet I still put down the text at the end with a better understanding of the author and the issues feminists are trying to right.

4. “The Complete Persepolis,” by: Marjane Satrapi

While I’m not typically a fan of graphic novels, this is a must-read. “The Complete Persepolis” combines humor, raw emotion and anger into one, perfectly woven together text. The story is autobiographical, but it feels like you’re following a television soap opera.

So much happens in so few words, and though the text is rather thick, it’s very quick to get through. It’s hard to put into words how brilliant the graphic novel is, but essentially, it highlights oppression, rebellion, war, family and love experienced across generations for one girl’s lifetime, and it’s powerful.

You won’t want to put it down, and you’ll feel like a more empowered person for having read it.

5. “Pride and Prejudice,” by: Jane Austen

It’s impossible to create a list about feminist literature without including this one. Yes, it’s a classic. Yes, it’s still worth reading. Amazingly, it’s 100 percent relevant in today’s culture.

If you haven’t read this for a class yet, read it for yourself. It’s that good.

The book is empowering, sets stereotypes right and shows that sometimes going against the grain is exactly what society needs. Oh, and it helps that it’s very captivating and perhaps one of the greatest love stories ever written.

While you don’t necessarily have to pick up these texts at your earliest convenience, they are without a doubt books that everyone needs to read in their lifetime. And the best part? They are all entertaining, keeping you motivated to continue reading until the very last page.

And as college students, we could all use that kind of motivation.

So the next break you get in your studies, pick up a feminist text — you just might learn something!

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