The Right to a Voice: A Feminist Book List

Feminism in literature: a book list.

International Women's Day traces its roots to the labor movement. In 1908, around 15,000 women in New York marched demanding shorter working hours, higher wages, and the right to vote.

The DeTalks team put together this reading list on feminism for International Women's Day.

Sharp Heels: A Handbook of Literary Feminism, by Vira Aheieva and Rostyslav Semkiv

Sharp Heels: A Handbook of Literary Feminism is a collection of stories about women writers who lived just as boldly as they wrote. The fourteen authors featured in the book broke conventional ideas about women's roles, drawing reactions that ranged from fear and irritation to criticism and respect.

The book places Ukrainian writers alongside authors of Western literature — from Mary Shelley to Lesya Ukrainka, from Virginia Woolf to Solomiia Pavlychko. It spans over 200 years of world and Ukrainian feminist history.

"After reading this book, I understand even more clearly the conditions these writers had to fight through to earn their right to a voice and to art. How much courage it took, on top of hard work, to get an education, get published, and raise women's issues in their writing," wrote user Olha Tiumentseva on Goodreads.

The Patriarchs: The Origins of Inequality, by Angela Saini

For centuries, male dominance was seen as an almost natural state of human society. In The Patriarchs, science journalist Angela Saini traces the origins of what we call patriarchy — how it emerged, took hold across different societies, and spread around the world.

The author looks at the earliest human settlements, draws on the latest research, and traces the cultural and political processes through which colonialism and empires radically transformed life in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

"Saini also documents the ways women resisted and challenged male dominance throughout history. The author discusses feminist movements and key figures who fought for gender equality, as well as the ongoing struggle women face in different parts of the world," wrote user Morgan Blackledge in a Goodreads comment.

The Double X Economy: The Epic Potential of Women's Empowerment, by Linda Scott

Economic inequality between women and men shows up in most countries. Different societies have their own mechanisms that keep the imbalance in place.

Barriers to women's economic participation go beyond employment and pay gaps, extending to access to property, capital, credit, and markets. Combined with cultural constraints, these factors create a distinct shadow economy. Drawing on research and firsthand experience, Linda Scott noted that removing these barriers brings clear benefits.

In the book, the author examines various forms of economic discrimination against women worldwide: fathers selling their daughters against their will, men burning brides whose dowries have been spent, seizing women's earnings and widows' land, banks discriminating against women loan applicants, corporations paying women less than men, and more.

"The Double X Economy is a groundbreaking study of women's economic empowerment. And while the book is dense and packed with fascinating research, and I really enjoyed it, if you're looking for light reading, this isn't it, since you need to stay fully engaged the whole time to get the most out of it," wrote user 8stitches9lives on Goodreads.

Feminists Don't Wear Pink (And Other Lies), by Scarlett Curtis

Feminists Don't Wear Pink (And Other Lies) is a collection of essays by well-known women, including actresses, singers, activists, writers, bloggers, and designers. Contributors include Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Helen Fielding, Emma Watson, and others.

The book brings together personal accounts from different women about their own experiences. This collection doesn't try to cover everything you need to know about feminism, but it does show that, at its heart, feminism is about women themselves.

"These essays are incredibly personal and unique. Each one explores what feminism means to that specific person, along with the closeness or tension they feel and encounter within the feminist movement," wrote user Lucy on Goodreads.

These books on feminism offer a broader look at women's experiences, the development of feminist thought, and discussions of gender equality across different eras.