Feminism might be one of the hottest—and most contested—buzzwords of our current political and social climate. It seems like everyone has their own definition and connotations they associate with the word, but you’ll find a commonality in these masterful essay collections by some of our most prominent and astute women writers: somewhere in their own classification of the term is love, power, autonomy, and justice—for all people.
6 Essay Collections on Why We Should All Be Feminists
An essential primer to feminism, this short book packs a powerful punch. Adapted from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TEDx Talk of the same name, WE SHOULD ALL BE FEMINISTS is an intimate, inspiring, and illuminative exploration of sexual politics, and offers a redefinition of feminism fit for the 21st century.
This personal, eloquent, and unique essay offers readers a definition of feminism for the twenty-first century—and for the next generations—which is rooted in inclusion and awareness.
Nobody knows about “strong, independent women who don’t need no man” more than Rebecca Traister. In ALL THE SINGLE LADIES, Traister investigates and celebrates unmarried women in America, through extensive research and hundreds of interviews with prominent single ladies everywhere. As Traister reveals to us, the American single woman is not a new phenomenon, but a time-honored tradition of independence and resounding strength.
For your feminist friends
Rebecca Traister offers a comprehensive study of the power of independent women in America through the fascinating history of unmarried women and their lasting, radical effect on the nation.
MENTIONED IN:
FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY demonstrates how embracing intersectional feminism has the power to eradicate sexism and oppression across all races and classes. Don’t be fooled by the book’s short length—in a mere 138 pages, hooks has written a timeless touchstone of feminism that’s accessible to all readers.
MENTIONED IN:
In SISTER OUTSIDER, poet Audre Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and social class, in a tenacious collection of fearless essays. While Lorde’s writings examine generations of great strife and injustice, her ultimate message is one of hope for the future.
MENTIONED IN:
Carina Chocano is confused by the mixed messages girls receive—and she’s far from the only one. In YOU PLAY THE GIRL, Chocano dissects everything from sexy sidekicks to damsels in distress, Playboy Bunnies, and Frozen, and concludes that being a woman is far more complex and mercurial than any archetype the media feeds us.
MENTIONED IN:
You might already be familiar with Rebecca Solnit’s formidable essay collection MEN EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME, but THE MOTHER OF ALL QUESTIONS is just as thought-provoking and iconoclastic. This collection stems from a title essay questioning a woman’s supposed duty as a mother, but branches out to inspect rape jokes, fragile masculinity, and more under Solnit’s insightful and razor-sharp eye.