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Growing up in a world where traditional gender roles were just the way things were, it took me a while to realize how much misogyny and patriarchy affected everything.
We didn’t really talk about it, and it wasn’t until I started learning more about feminism that I began to see it for what it was.
These 15 feminist books were a game-changer for me.
They gave me a whole new way of looking at the world and showed me how powerful women are when they fight for what’s right.
They’ve been such an eye-opener, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
1. Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
Mikki Kendall’s Hood Feminism challenges mainstream feminism by focusing on the issues that often get overlooked, like access to basic needs such as food, medical care, and education.
Kendall highlights how these are essential feminist issues, especially for marginalized women who face intersecting struggles.
She encourages a more inclusive movement that centers on survival and solidarity – something I think we could all benefit from reflecting on.
2. Breaking Free: The Lie of Equality and the Feminist Fight for Freedom by Marcie Bianco
In Breaking Free, Marcie Bianco dives deep into why striving for equality often falls short for women and marginalized groups.
She argues that the concept of equality itself is flawed and doesn’t address the historical oppression women have faced.
Bianco proposes that true freedom, not equality, should be the goal of feminism.
I love how this book pushes us to rethink the very idea of what feminism can and should be.
3. Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality by Josie Fox
This one tells the incredible story of women’s long struggle for financial freedom.
From being denied property rights to fighting for equal pay, Women Money Power spotlights the brave women who challenged systems that kept them financially powerless.
Josie Cox reminds us how far we’ve come but also how much work is still needed to achieve true economic equality for women.
4. Feminism Is for Everybody by Bell Hooks
Bell Hooks’ Feminism Is for Everybody presents a welcoming and open vision of feminism, and it emphasizes that it’s not just for a select few but for everyone who wants equality and justice.
Hooks touches on a wide range of topics, from reproductive rights to race and class, and she urges us to embrace a feminism that is inclusive and full of love and respect.
I think what makes this book so special is its warmth and accessibility; it feels like Hooks is inviting you into a conversation.
5. Freedom Is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis
Angela Davis’ Freedom Is a Constant Struggle is a powerful collection of her essays, interviews, and speeches that connect struggles for justice across the globe.
She examines how movements for Black freedom, prison abolition, and human rights intersect.
It’s a deeply thought-provoking read that reminds us that freedom isn’t a one-time victory.
Rather, she sees it as an ongoing fight that requires all of us.
6. Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change by Angela Garbes
In Essential Labor, Angela Garbes redefines mothering as an act of social change.
Reflecting on her own experience as a mother and the wider cultural context of caregiving, she makes a compelling argument that mothering is not only essential but has the potential to create a more just society.
This book made me think about how caregiving is undervalued, and Garbes helps us see it in a whole new light, that is as work that’s foundational to everything.
7. Egyptian Made: Women, Work, and the Promise of Liberation by Leslie T. Chang
Egyptian Made follows three women working in Egypt’s textile industry, and sheds light on their struggles within a society that often limits their opportunities.
Leslie T. Chang does an incredible job blending personal stories with a rich history of Egyptian society and its political challenges.
It’s a testament to the resilience of women who continue to push for change despite the odds.
8. Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers’ Rights by Molly Smith and Juno Mac
This bold manifesto challenges the stigma around sex work and argues for the full decriminalization of sex work.
Through personal experiences and global law comparisons, Molly Smith and Juno Mac make a case for why decriminalizing sex work is the key to reducing harm to sex workers.
It’s an eye-opening look at a highly misunderstood issue that’s definitely worth considering with an open mind.
9. Naked Feminism: Breaking the Cult of Female Modesty by Victoria Bateman
In Naked Feminism, Victoria Bateman confronts the societal obsession with women’s bodies and how modesty is often used as a tool of control.
By using her own body in protests, Bateman calls for a feminism that embraces women’s autonomy and rejects the idea that women must conform to a certain image of modesty.
It’s a bold, unapologetic read that asks us to rethink what it means to be free.
10. A Woman’s Life Is a Human Life: My Mother, Our Neighbor, and the Journey from Reproductive Rights to Reproductive Justice by Felicia Kornbluh
Felicia Kornbluh’s A Woman’s Life Is a Human Life highlights the powerful grassroots movements that helped shape the reproductive rights landscape.
She details the fight to decriminalize abortion and address sterilization abuse, and shoes how activists changed laws and pushed for reproductive justice.
This book is a moving reminder of how collective action can create lasting change.
11. Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto by Cinzia Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya, and Nancy Fraser
This book challenges the idea that feminism is just about getting women into top positions.
Instead, it argues that feminism should focus on the majority of women – those struggling with poverty, housing, and healthcare.
The authors push for a feminism that fights against capitalism, racism, and environmental destruction.
I think it’s such an important reminder that true equality must include everyone, especially the most marginalized, and that we need to reshape society from the ground up.
12. Flowers of Fire: The Inside Story of South Korea’s Feminist Movement by Hawon Jung
Hawon Jung takes us into South Korea’s brave and ongoing feminist revolution.
From fighting for abortion rights to tackling sexual violence, these women are shaking up a deeply patriarchal society.
I found it so inspiring how South Korean feminists are rising up, often in the face of enormous pushback.
Jung’s account gives us a front-row seat to a feminist movement that is both urgent and powerful, and she shows how women across the globe are facing similar battles for equality.
13. The Furies: Women, Vengeance, and Justice by Elizabeth Flock
This book looks at women who’ve fought back using violence against those who’ve harmed them.
Flock tells the stories of three women – each from different parts of the world – who turned to force when their legal systems failed them.
It’s a thought-provoking exploration of whether violence is ever justified and whether it leads to real change.
And, it really makes you consider the ways society reacts to women who refuse to remain passive.
14. Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
In this incredible collection of essays, Audre Lorde dives deep into issues like sexism, racism, and homophobia.
Her writing is powerful, lyrical, and often calls for action.
I love how Lorde doesn’t shy away from difficult truths, and how her words still resonate today.
Her focus on embracing differences as a source of strength is something I think we all need to hear more of.
15. Hags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women by Victoria Smith
This book challenges the way society treats middle-aged women, as it dismisses them as irrelevant or undesirable.
Smith traces this disdain all the way back to the witch hunts of history and shows how dangerous stereotypes persist.
What I appreciate is that Smith doesn’t just call out the problem – she ends with hopeful suggestions for empowering older women and changing society’s views.
It’s a refreshing look at how we can shift the narrative around aging and power.
If any of these books resonated with you, or if you have your own feminist recommendations, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
And if you’re looking for more great reads, don’t forget to check out the related posts for even more inspiration.
