10 Must-Read Books to Expand Your Feminism | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

10 Must-Read Books to Expand Your Feminism

Because your feminism should be intersectional or it will be bulls***.

87
10 Must-Read Books to Expand Your Feminism
Pexels

Everyone should be a feminist, and everyone's feminism should be intersectional. Put simply, intersectionality is recognizing the identities, the privileges or disadvantages associated with that identity, and how multiple aspects of an identity can shape the human experience. Feminism cannot be separated from race, class, religion, disability, gender, etc.

So as we approach the tail end of Women's History Month, here's a list of diverse reading material to broaden your mind and expand your feminism for years to come. Dig in!

1. "Bad Feminist" by Roxane Gay

Click here to buy.

In these insightful and funny essays, Roxane Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman of color while also providing sharp commentary on the state of feminism today. Being a bad feminist means that you allow space for mistakes to happen so you can improve. If you're just getting into intersectional feminism, this is the perfect book for you.

2. "Sister Outsider" by Audre Lorde

Click here to buy.

These essays explore and illuminate the roots of Lorde's intellectual development and her deep-seated and longstanding concerns about ways of increasing empowerment among minority women writers and the absolute necessity to explicate the concept of difference—difference according to sex, race, and economic status. Lorde's prose reflects the nuanced oppression felt by a lesbian woman of color, but ultimately delivers a message of hope.

3. "Gender Trouble" by Judith Butler

Click here to buy.

If you took a Gender Studies course, you'll probably recognize this book from your syllabus. But it's worth another look, considering the book was written in the '90s, a time where talk about gender and sexuality was pretty groundbreaking.

4. "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi

Click here to buy.

Not every book has to be a heavy academic read. In fact, reading personal accounts is a great way to dig into perspectives that aren't your own. Nafisi's empowering memoir recounts the time in her life where she left her job as a university professor in Tehran due to the repressive policies she continually faced. She and a few of her female students formed a secret book club, which covered Western classics by Jane Austen, Vladimir Nabokov, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and others––all of which were forbidden by the government. Nafasi delivers a powerful message to every female student: knowledge is power.

5. "Blood Poems" by Eliana Wong

Click here to buy.

Written six months after leaving a toxic relationship, Blood Poems is an Appalachian Asian, disabled, and transgender poet's response to the complexities and contradictions of love. This is about the art of survival and rebirth.

6. "Sex Workers Unite" by Melinda Chateauvert

Telling stories of sex workers, from the front lines of the 1970s sex wars to the modern-day streets of SlutWalk, Melinda Chateauvert illuminates an underrepresented movement, introducing skilled activists who have organized a global campaign for self-determination and sexual freedom that is as multifaceted as the sex industry and as diverse as human sexuality.

7. "Woman, Native, Other" by Trinh T. Minh-ha

Click here to buy.

Although Minh-ha's writing style can take a bit of getting used to, the message of this work is simple yet powerful: feminism needs to make room for cultural, racial, national, and gender differences. She, like many intersectional feminists, believes that carrying the "sign" of woman should not be used as a universal "sameness." Minh-ha argues that we must speak out against white feminists who re-appropriate language, traditions, and culture of post-colonialism in the name of feminism.

8. "Chicana Feminist Thought" by Alma M. Garcia

Click here to buy.

Chicana Feminist Thought brings together the voices of Chicana poets, writers, and activists who reflect upon the Chicana Feminist Movement that began in the late 1960s. With energy and passion, this anthology of writings documents the personal and collective political struggles of Chicana feminists.

9. "Women, Race, & Class" by Angela Davis

Click here to buy.

Women, Race, & Class is another great starter for anyone interested in the history of the women's movement. Beginning with slavery and the abolitionist movement to the women's suffrage movement, Davis explores the fight for reproductive rights, labor struggles, housework and domestic work, and more. She exposes the racism and classism of popular feminist icons like Susan B. Anthony and the women's movement at large.

10. "On Intersectionality" by Kimberlé Crenshaw

Click here to buy.

This reading list wouldn't be complete without the woman who defined the concept of intersectionality in the first place. This anthology of essays and articles covers the evolution of the meaning of intersectionality over the course of two decades and how this concept has radically changed the face of social justice activism.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

509
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

318
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199265
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20309
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments