We live in an increasingly polarized world and feminist literature has never been as important as it is today. It’s our only hope of a better, more inclusive world as reading about diverse cultures and experiences can make us more receptive to ideas that we might not necessarily agree with. I have seen staunch people change their views on gender and sexuality because they read or watched something that triggered an emotional response in them. It doesn’t happen overnight but there’s a chance that even people with strict traditional moral values might change their minds and be open to new ideas if they find works that resonate with them. This week, I’m recommending five of my favorite feminist reads that I think everyone, especially men, should read. 

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

I first heard about this book from a BookTuber I follow. She spoke so highly of it that I wanted to get a copy as soon as I could. And I wanted a physical copy of the book because I was a little in love with its gorgeous, well thought out cover. ‘Three Women’ is a non-fiction book by Lisa Taddeo. It’s her debut novel and it follows the sexual and emotional lives of three women from different backgrounds and regions in the United States. Taddeo interviewed these three women and their families and friends over the course of eight long years. What I especially enjoyed about the book is that it reads like fiction rather than non-fiction. There’s almost a thriller element to it. The book details women’s complex emotions on desire and power and sheds light on how most women are the victims of misogyny even when it might not be obvious. I think it’s a must read for women of all ages and it’s an even more important work for men to pick up. 

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This slim book by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was published in 2014 and talks about the meaning of feminism and its importance in the 21st century. Adichie draws from her own life experiences and things that she has been told by other women. The main argument of the essay is, like the title suggests, everyone should be a feminist and Adichie shows how we can do better so that there is gender equality in the world. She urges readers to challenge old beliefs on gender that promote inequality between men and women. I read the book every six months or so because it’s short and the ideas presented in it make me think in different ways with every read. I also enjoy Adichie’s writing. Her novel ‘Purple Hibiscus’ is one of my absolute favorites. In ‘We Should All Be Feminists’, her voice rings loud and clear, inspiring you to do whatever you can to break free from cultural and social constructs that tell you that you are less than a man. I also tend to carry this book in my bag and dip in and out whenever I have some free time. Even if I read just a few lines, I find my mind becomes alert and I like how that feels. 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

I didn’t read this book for the longest time because it was everywhere and I felt I knew everything there was to know about it without even owning a copy. ‘The Color Purple’, which was published in 1982, won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Everyone I knew, even those who didn’t read a lot, had read this book and I kind of felt left out so I finally gave in and bought a copy. The book has been targeted by censors many times, mainly for the explicit content so I also wanted to find out what the fuss was all about. The book has been adapted into feature films, musicals and even a radio series. The protagonist of the novel is sexually abused by her father and then her husband and the book details her journey of finding herself despite her circumstances. I must admit that it’s a difficult novel to read but it’s also an essential read as it makes you aware of the atrocities women suffer at the hands of men and why it’s important to speak up about gender equality and sexuality. 

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

I have multiple copies of Virginia Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own’ as it’s a book I keep lending out and people keep forgetting to return it and I always like having a copy at hand. One of my friends recently gifted me a special edition of the book that has become one of my prized possessions. It’s an extended essay based on two lectures that Woolf delivered in 1928 at women’s colleges. The idea of the work is basically that for women to achieve greatness and come up with good literary work, they must have two things and that both of these are non-negotiable: financial resources, and time and space in the form of ‘a room of one’s own’. You get the sense of how important financial freedom is, especially for women. It gives them independence and agency besides allowing them to pursue what they love. It’s narrated by an unnamed female character, making you feel like it could very well be you telling your story. There’s a television adaptation of the book that compliments it really well. But I suggest you read the book first and then watch it on screen for maximum impact. 

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

I believe there is a right time to read ‘The Awakening’ by Kate Chopin. Otherwise, it can come across as boring. I had almost given up on it after multiple tries when I picked it up on whim one day and really enjoyed it. It’s considered a landmark work of early feminist literature as it depicts female sexuality with brutal honesty and challenges traditional gender roles. It was originally titled ‘A Solitary Soul’ and depicts a young mother’s struggle to achieve sexual and personal freedom. When it was first published in 1899, it was criticized for its portrayal of marital infidelity. It has also been described as a case study of 19th century feminism as the theme of the novel is women’s bodily autonomy—the right to have control over one’s body and identity. Feminists back then argued that the only way a woman could gain freedom was by refusing men’s control over their bodies. They focused on a wife’s right to say no to sexual advances from her husband. The novel is laced with symbolism and thus feels a little heavy so I suggest you read it when you are in the right frame of mind for it as it will keep you up at night.