There's no better way to celebrate International Women's Day than by getting your read on with these seriously inspiring feminist books.
Sure, the coronavirus is a bummer but it’s also a great excuse to squirrel up at home with a good book. And if you’re like us, there’s nothing we like better than a nice glass of pinot noir, peace and quiet and a deliciously awesome read. So this International Women’s Day (it’s on Sunday, woot!), send the kids to a park or two with their scooters and settle down with one of these feminist books to empower yo’self and your sister-friends:
Circe by Madeline Miller
Did you read The Odyssey in high school? Yes? Then you’ll probably remember (or not) when this beautiful, powerful goddess called Circe turned all of Odysseus’s men into pigs. Turns out, there’s so much more to Circe than this. Unlike your typical stories of Ancient Greek goddesses, Circe is not a lovelorn woman pining for some kind of connection but a multi-faceted character with family issues, awesome powers, a great heart and inner strength who is all about living life to the fullest – basically a badass b*tch. We love, love, love it – one of our fave feminist books.
Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés
What does it mean to be a woman? In her book, Estés uses classic fables and fairy tales to challenge everything we’ve been taught about being a woman – we’re talking painful experiences and transforming them into metaphors and stories that will help us reconnect with our true wild woman selves. From why we fear what we do and why we ignore our instincts to the kind of romantic relationships we’re supposed to have and the suppression of creativity in our professional and personal lives – it’s all in there.
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Imagine if one day, people developed the ability to produce electricity inside of them. Now imagine if those people were women and that they could use this power to kill, destroy and torture people… That’s exactly what happens in Alderman’s dystopian, feminist book and now a world formerly built on patriarchy has gone all topsy turvy. Women now have the power and the strength and men are the ones who have to watch their back. Talk about crazy times!
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Formerly known to the public as only Emily Doe, the survivor of the Stanford swimmer rape case, Chanel Miller finally tells her story and most importantly, reveals her real name. Her statement was posted on Buzzfeed, which instantly went viral; it inspired millions and shook up some changes in California law (the judge in the case was recalled). In her novel, Miller bravely shares her story, giving courage to women who were once afraid to speak out in fear of being shamed.
Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
Simone is the new cool girl in school but she has a secret: she’s HIV positive. She starts dating Miles, the resident cutie and as things start to get more physical, she starts to question herself and whether or not she should tell Miles. Things get worse when she finds an anonymous note in her locker threatening to reveal her secret if she doesn’t break up with Miles. Will she stand up for herself or keep on living in the shadows? You’ll have to read this book to find out.
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
On Christmas Eve in 1617, in the Norwegian island of Vardo, a crazy storm kills every man in the village. The women left behind need to learn to fend for themselves, and some do it more unusual ways than others. When a new leader (who happens to be a witch-hunter) arrives with his young wife and tries to take control of Vardo, he faces something he’s never experienced: strong-willed, independent women. Based on the Salem witch trials, this book shows how strong women really are.
