This is a list of books any feminist, new feminist, or a soon-to-be feminist should read. Let me know what books you feel should be added to this list!
Tags:
activism, african-american-history, african-american-nonfiction, african-american-studies, american-literature, american-studies, autobiography, best, biography, bisexual, british-literature, female, feminism, feminist, fiction, gender, gender-studies, history, intersectionality, lesbian-nonfiction, literary-classics, literary-fiction, memoir, non-fiction, nonfiction, politics, queer, queer-studies, sexual-politics, sexuality, women, women-of-color, womens-history, womens-studies
2480 likes · Like
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.
Lissette
177 books
65 friends
65 friends
jenna
440 books
69 friends
69 friends
Amy
1876 books
7 friends
7 friends
Wealhtheow
4761 books
692 friends
692 friends
Natasha
1063 books
8 friends
8 friends
Bryan
1132 books
81 friends
81 friends
Jessica
390 books
213 friends
213 friends
Jennifer
3885 books
52 friends
52 friends
More voters…
Comments Showing 1-50 of 60 (60 new)
message 1:
by
Lisa
(new)
Oct 14, 2008 06:17AM
Please add 'Manifesta' and 'The Body Project' both excellent feminist reads.
reply
|
flag
I would also add "Flux: Women on Sex, Work, Love, Kids, and Life in a Half-Changed World" by Peggy Orenstein
Is there an easy way to adopt this list, or keep a file of it handy? I'm starting a feminist library at work. This list is a fantastic start. Kudos
Anyone, who's interested in feminism must read Virginia Woolf. Especially, her groundbreaking essays, such as; A Room of One's Own and "Professions for Women".
Gone WIth The Wind? King Lear? Just because a book has a "strong female lead" doesn't make it feminist!
Sex Wars by Marge Piercy & The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued Ann Crittenden
Kathryn wrote: "I am disappointed that bell hooks' name is not represented correctly."I agree. People spell it wrong all the time.
julian wrote: "this list is too white+western+second wave"I have to disagree with you. There are a lot of books here representing all women. You should look a bit closer.
It may seem strange that a male would want to add to a feminist book list but the lady for whom I authored the book NOT AGAIN (Amazon Kindle) is, to my mind, the most inspirational person I've ever encountered and I would like to add her to your list, as an inspiration to other ladies.The background to her story can be found at http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/insp... and the description can be found on Amazon: UK http://tinyurl.com/ct5xqx9
USA http://tinyurl.com/cxv9c9x
hmm, I'm a huge fan of Jane Eyre but I'm not sure I'd call it the best "feminist" novel. But then, I haven't read it in a long while and the details aren't very clear to me.Here's a great poem I read, I have no idea who it's by but it's great.
I fight like a girl who refuses to be a victim.
I fight like a girl who is tired of being IGNORED & HUMORED & BEATEN & RAPED.
I fight like a girl who’s sick of not being taken seriously.
I fight like a girl who’s been pushed too far.
I fight like a girl who OFFERS & DEMANDS RESPECT.
I fight like a girl who has a lifetime of ANGER & STRENGTH & PRIDE pent up in her girly body.
I fight like a girl who doesn’t believe in FEAR & SUBMISSION.
I fight like a girl who knows that THIS BODY & THIS MIND are mine.
I fight like a girl who knows that YOU ONLY HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS I GRANT YOU.
I fight like a girl who will never allow you to take more than I offer.
I fight like a girl who FIGHTS BACK.
So next time you think you can distract yourself from your insecurities by victimizing a girl, THINK AGAIN. She may be ME and I FIGHT LIKE A GIRL.
Cindy wrote: "How about some Alice Walker?"I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Color Purple. I think it's great not just as a feminist novel that goes to the very core of feminism, but also as a piece of literature about religion.
Fatin wrote: "hmm, I'm a huge fan of Jane Eyre but I'm not sure I'd call it the best "feminist" novel. But then, I haven't read it in a long while and the details aren't very clear to me.
Here's a great poem I ..."
I was wondering why Jane Eyre was on here. What did I miss? She should have smacked Rochester up the side of the head. Read Wide Sargasso Sea.
Here's a great poem I ..."
I was wondering why Jane Eyre was on here. What did I miss? She should have smacked Rochester up the side of the head. Read Wide Sargasso Sea.
I know that I'm responding to an old post by a deleted user, but I believe that Jane Eyre is on here because Jane (and the woman who wrote her) was an independent woman caring for herself in every way (including monetarily) in a time when that was extremely uncommon. Also, the author, Charlotte Bronte, was a very loud voice for women in that very early time period in which few women spoke up. Yes, Rochester was a cad, but thankfully he wasn't the whole focus of the novel.
ALSO, I agree with Stephanie -- I do not understand why Atlas Shrugged is on here. If someone can explain that, please do. If not, I'm going to come back in a few days and delete it, if that's okay with everyone...
Great list of books!I wanted to recommend a book I think that deserves to be on the list called "The Pedestriennes" by author Harry Hall (http://www.pedestriennes.com/). During the Industrial Revolution the sport of endurance walking was taking off (of course it was hugely dominated by men) until a group of women, calling themselves the Pedestriennes, took over. Endurance walking was a BEYOND difficult sport that required the competition to last for days and weeks. Madame "Ada" Anderson (top walker among men and women) walked 1,008 miles and it took her one week. Her feet were so swollen they had to wrap them in turpentine and raw beef! The book tells the story of many successful women endurance walkers and the controversy and difficulty that followed their career choices. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a fascinating look into a sport I had no idea existed!
Sarah wrote: "Why on earth is Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus on here?!"Yeah, I have no idea. It definitely doesn't belong here.
There's a whole lot of questionable books on this list. I mean, what's supposed to be feminist about Atlas Shrugged or Pride and Prejudice, for that matter?
Kaion wrote: "There's a whole lot of questionable books on this list. I mean, what's supposed to be feminist about Atlas Shrugged or Pride and Prejudice, for that matter?"I can only answer for Pride and Prejudice, as I haven't read Atlas Shrugged. I haven't voted for it myself, but I can see why people thought Pride and Prejudice to be feminist. Just look at the behaviour of Elizabeth: She definitely showed a feminist streak in those days :-) And although she is rather an empty-headed girl, one can also argue that Lydia shows signs of feminism in her behaviour... (considering the era the book was written in). And after all, the description of the Listopia does say "This is a list of books any feminist, new feminist, or a soon-to-be feminist should read." Seen in this light, I don't think Pride and Prejudice should be missing on this list.
message 34:
by
V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards
(new)
I voted Breaking Dawn. Bella would kick the asses of all heroines here. If you can include Anna Karenina who is a cheater, or Tita from water to chocolate who is a wimp and lets her man treat her badly, then Bella should be in first place.
How do we add or suggest books. There are many new books and authors that could be on this list. This list is dated. Or we need a Fresh List of Best Feminist Authors. The criteria ought to be not whether xxx was a feminist or ought to be viewed as one---but is she/he one of the best?! imho.
Lapsus wrote: "Much to my astonishment, I didn't find The Tenant of Wildfell Hall so I added it."How do I vote for it?
Veronica wrote: "I voted Breaking Dawn. Bella would kick the asses of all heroines here. If you can include Anna Karenina who is a cheater, or Tita from water to chocolate who is a wimp and lets her man treat her b..."Well let's see...
Anna Karenina (the book) examines the life of a woman and how she is constrained by social conventions. She attempts to escape but is eventually unsuccessful. This would be classified as a social criticism novel. The female character doesn't have to have a happy ending for the book to be feminist. The point is that her only options are dependence on men or poverty and social ostracism.
I would not necessarily classify Like Water for Chocolate as a feminist book, though it does portray the oppression of women by other women because of their gender (a son would not have the same restrictions and duties) in a negative way. The House of Bernarda Alba is, for me a better case study.
But these sort of lists end up being popularity contests where best selling, mass produced books end up with the most votes even if they actually have little to do with the subject.
Also, Twilight presents codependency and nearly abusive controlling behavior between the two main characters as normal and even desirable and romantic. One male friend once asked me why feminism still existed, if women had achieved equality . I replied that although many advances had been made, many aspects of our culture still reflect underlying patriarchal values. I only needed a one word example for him to concede "Twilight".
Being a feminist does not mean you beat people up like a comic book character. It is about self reflection and examining the values and ideas that guide your life or are present in your social environment. If you want to read about women who ARE feminists and can stand up for themselves here's a good book: Women of a Non-State Nation, The Kurds ( they also happen to be real people not fictional characters).
The only reason I got through the first two books of Twilight was because my two best friends (one just out of a codependent relationship) promised to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall in return. After the second book, I could not take the silly Cinderella nonsense anymore and stopped. My friend ended up watching the movie and said it helped her determine she did not want to get back together with the guy.
Now I try to balance the examples my high school students get from the media by loaning them out my books like the Bell Jar, A Doll's House etc and show them that it's Okay to be with someone if you want to, but you don't owe anyone any explanations if you want to be single and concentrate on your studies or career and achieve your own goals.
'Delusions of Gender' by Cordelia Fine is a good one. Didn't see it mentioned here.
message 42:
by
V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards
(new)
You would think that a story where the heroine works hard to get what she wants in life, to overpower the wills of the stronger creatures that surround her, that stands her ground against her dad and is willing to do would be consider empowering. But no! Being a strong female doesn't mean to be heartless, doesn't mean to ignore love, doesn't mean to be a man with a vagina, doesn't mean to be willing to abort your child so you won't risk your life. It doesn't mean that you won't ever face depression or dark periods in your life, but that you will fall and then get to your feet again stronger than ever. IN my opinion, being a feminist woman means to take decisions, to fight for what you want in your life even when everyone who surrounds you is trying to deter you to live up to the consequences of them. Like Bella.Nice to know that Tita who never stood her ground is considered a "feminist" when she never stood her ground. Nice to know that Anna Karennina is considered feminist because the book in which she appears was written by a genious writer. Not that Ana, the character did anything good. In breaking dawn is Bella who saves the day. Anna Karennina is just a wimp who whines a complain.
to those of you questioning atlas shrugged, how many of you have read the book? The female protagnonist, Dagny Taggart, kicks butt and takes names!She is the head of the largest transportation company in the US that is being kept a float thanks to her intellect. its a long book but a great read. Not to mention it was written by Ayn Rand, a woman, who is a wickedly smart philosopher, author, and playwright.
I suggest adding:Flirting with Danger by Lynn M. Phillips
Almost Famous Women by Megan Mayhew Bergman
Girls on the Verge by Vendela Vida
Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls by Jes Baker
Sex Object by Jessica Valenti
Angry White Men by Michael Kimmel
Hunting Girls: Sexual Violence from The Hunger Games to Campus Rape by Kelly Oliver
Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear...and Why by Sady Doyle
Sooooo, are we not going to talk about the fact that the hunger games are on this list, or am I terribly mistaken and are those books suddenly feminist?
Imke wrote: "Sooooo, are we not going to talk about the fact that the hunger games are on this list, or am I terribly mistaken and are those books suddenly feminist?"There are other titles on this list I wonder about as well. But I guess it is left up to the reader to decide, as the description says "This is a list of books any feminist, new feminist, or a soon-to-be feminist should read". Because of it, one can add almost any title, unfortunately...
Elissa wrote: "to those of you questioning atlas shrugged, how many of you have read the book? The female protagnonist, Dagny Taggart, kicks butt and takes names!She is the head of the largest transportation comp..."Well, yeah, but later in the book Dagny pretty much admits that she needs Galt to dedicate everything about her life. As happens to every righteous character in the novel, everyone gets Galt'ed.
I have really enjoyed the discussion in this thread, and I am personally glad that people posted titles with which others disagreed, as that has led to thoughtful and interesting comments. Keep it up!
Inga Muscio's "cunt" isn't a feminist work, nor is Judith Butler's anything. Feminism is about women's liberation from patriarchy, not about the neoliberal, hyper-individualized, hyper-sexualized sham, the parade of [internalized] misogyny it's become.
Gender is the tool of sex-based oppression, and anything that incorporates genderist ideology or gender apologetics into its theory is decidedly anti-feminist and anti-woman.
Related News
Over at Amazon, the book editors are celebrating 25 years of curating the latest and greatest titles for Amazon Books. To mark the...
Anyone can add books to this list.
























