30 Fun Feminist books for Your Summer Vacation
What is better than laying by the beach and reading a book that expresses you, it is like you have separated from the world and stepped into your own universe of peace and tranquility. If you are a feminist or want to no more about how this movement begins, how it affected many women’s lives and how it made a huge impact on social media platforms this year then you should make a little space of feminist books in your suitcase.
This article includes books which discuss the early meaning and movements of feminism, besides how far it has come and the other terms and theories that appeared by time and has a strong connection to it. It also includes inspirational and motivational books for women who get through all hardness and achieve their goals through their beliefs.
Fun and Educative Feminist Books for Your Summer Holiday
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman – Mary Wollstonecraft
A good choice if you want to the early history of feminism and how far it has come. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was published in 1792 by, one of the mothers of feminist theory, Marry Wollstonecraft and it talks about the revolutionary feminist demands back then for women’s freedom, independence and right in education.
she also discussed the idea of women as the natural and intellectual equals of men, that was a hundred years before the feminist term ever existed.
A Room of One’s Own – Virginia Woolf
This one of the best feminist books of all time, in that book Virginia show how women could be superior in the literature field in a time they were considered lesser creators and writers due to their gender.
Searching for summer beauty tips while getting ready for the next vacation..check this guide
Feminism is for Everybody – Bell Hooks
It is that kind of book that should be in every women’s bookshelf, it discusses how feminism really is away from the stereotypic picture that media has exposed to people. Actually, everyone who wants to know more about feminism needs to read this book, it is very informative rather than the fun and entertaining tone by hooks which add great vibes to your summer holiday.
Gender Outlaw – Kate Bornstein
Not many people have introduced to ” non-binary term ” but if you want to know more about it and how it connected to feminism somehow, Bornstein described herself as -nonbinary transfeminine diesel femme dyke- well introduce you to it. In the book, she discusses how social, cultural and political factors could gender performance. Although it was published in 1994 it still a fresh lookup that take feminism into another detour.
The Bloody Chamber – Angela Carter
A very fun and entertaining choice for your vacation, in that book Carter, takes fairytales to a new level by retailing them with a feminist twist. These tales include vampiric sleep beauties, murderous Little Red Riding Hoods, and a beautiful woman who turned into a beast.
This Bridge Called My Back
This book was written by more than a dozen feminist women of color who tell their stories of how they deal with society according to their shape, race, class, sexuality and of course gender. The book was published in the 1980s but when you read you won’t find much difference from what is happening nowadays.
The Female Eunuch – Germaine Greer
Germaine Greer considered one of the most significant voices in the late 20th, she also known for her shocking opinion about how women should consider tasting their own menstrual blood. In that book Greer talks about how women should accept their bodies and not being affected by men’s look to them, it had made a bestseller when it first published in 1970 so be sure that you will find yourself at some point in as a feminist.
The Vagina Monologues – Eve Ensler
Ensler adopted a new tone of feminism in that book away from traditional thinking as she talked about different subjects; sexual concept, body image, reproduction, and sex work. She wanted to give voice and power to women of different races, and identities.
We Should All Be Feminists – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda presents a new definition of feminism in the 20th century, by discussing what women face and deal with in everyday life.
Men Explain Things to Me – Rebecca Solnit
Puplusided in 2017 and based on seven essays for Solnit, the main essay which addressed as the book’s title discuss ” mansplaining, ” a term that describes women who live their lives according to men instruction, how they supposed to think, treat their bodies and take action in each aspect of their own life.
Redefining Realness – Janet Mock
If you look for some inspiration in your summer vacation then you should read this book, Monck discusses and tells her own story about being a transgender woman and what she faced and get through until she became one of the most respected and recognizable trans activists and advocates in the United State.
Sister Outsider – Audre Lorde
Another book that discusses another new term connected to feminism, it is ” Intersectional feminism ” which has raised and formed lots of proponents through the recent years. Audre expressed her point of view and belief in intersectional through an iconic collection of speeches and essays on sexism, and homophobia while discussing them through a black, queer, feminist perspective.
The Second Sex – Simone de Beauvoir
Many scholars consider this book as the first book of women feminism, in which de Beauvoir talks about the experience and history of women from a biological angle. She discusses how women’s biology makes it difficult for them to succeed in the patriarchy. It is a fresh point of view although the book was published in 1949.
Women, Culture, and Politics – Angela Y. Davis
The way women treated in was always attributed to two fundamental factors; culture and politics. In that book, Angelia discusses feminism through a collection of essays and speeches on sexism, racism and economic besides stories of women who faced some of this and also her own experience throughout her life.
The Beauty Myth – Naomi Wolf
Every day women face different types of pressure on how they should like and what beauty whether through social media platforms, men or beauty retails. The book published in 1990 by Naomi Wolf discusses how beauty terms that sit by certain groups could be oppressive and tyrannical which didn’t change to that day.
Revolution from Within – Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem considered one of the most significant women in the feminist movement history, she considered an idol for every woman. She wrote more than five books that all talk about feminism and being a feminist so if you searching for some hard feminist books that can really educate you to get one of her works. In that book, she talks about the importance of self-esteem and only women could change their defense and force the world to treat time in the way they should be treated.
The Feminine Mystique – Betty Friedan
One of the most important feminist books that was being addressed as the first spark of second-wave feminism. The book argues how women should look up to their own expectations and live the life they want regardless of social pressure. Friedan wrote the book after she had a reunion with her former classmates from Smith College, as she found most of them were unsatisfied with being only housewives.
Herland – Charlotte Perkins Gilman
A very fun and entertaining fictional novel published in 1915 in which Gilman created a free-men world. In the novel, women were reproduced via asexual reproduction and they lived in a peaceful world free from wars and conflicts.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
This book will make you full of hope and power to get through any difficulties you have in your life, it talks about how strong character and passion for something will achieve what you looking for. Maya tells her own story and what she gets through from racism to trauma in her life.
Women’s Libation! – Merrily Grashin
Women’s Libation! If you searching for some fun feminist books this one will complete the summer vibes of your vacation, it gives an intense dose educative dose about authors, artists, philosophers, and revolutionaries women. Besides more than 75 cocktail recipes that you can do at home to cheer up yourself or a friend of yours.
Rad Girls Can – Written by Kate Schatz, Illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl
Another book that you can pack in your beach bag, it is very entertaining and gives you a powerful kick to start your life with a fresh and strong soul. It tells the story of different women who face and had different experiences through their lives either needing to prove themselves in a man-dominating sport, expressing themselves through music or advocating and defending for other women’s rights. Rad Girls Can was written by Kate Schatz and illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl.
A House Full of Females – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Another book that gives you a look too early feminism, in which Laurel Thatcher Ulrich takes about plural marriage and how religion and society instructions and stress could define women’s lives and remove anything connected to their rights in life.
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life. – Samantha Irby
A New York Time bestsellers that worth it, in that book Samantha Irby give you a huge portion of laughter although she discussing a heart aching subject. Ibry talks about some difficulties she faced in her childhood and how they still affecting her life although she an adult independent woman.
If you want to read something with light feminism away from hard terms and expressions, then you should go for that one and it stills giving you a powerful kick if you aiming for.
Tracks – Robyn Davidson
Tracks is a book for women who like challenging themselves to the limit and don’t give a sh**t to society and what people say, Robyn Davidson had taken a long journey through the Australian desert she tells everything in the book which makes you don’t stop reading. It is a very entertaining one for your journey with a feminist hint.
The Handmaid’s Tale (Movie Tie-in) – Margaret Atwood
If you didn’t watch the series then you should read the book, Margaret Atwood had told the story of most women’s lives in our world but with a mimic story for women who have been stripped from all their human rights just for the sake of powerful men and their politics.
The Customer is Always Wrong – Mimi Pond
One of the most realistic feminist books as Mimi Pond tells us how work fields were racist in the 70s which didn’t change very much until now. Pond was a creative artist but she struggled to enter the art field to prove herself, so she had to work as a waitress while working on her own art project.
The Power – Naomi Alderman
A science fiction novel by Naomi Alderman who telling the story of a new world where women have extra physical powers by which they able to hurt men. In that world roles have altered as women treat men the same way they have treated them with and how the shape of the world changed, it is very amusing for your summer vacation.
You Play the Girl: On Playboy Bunnies, Stepford Wives, Train Wrecks, & Other Mixed Messages – Carina Chocano
A very powerful book that criticizes the pop culture and how it affects girls and women thinking, how they show women as sex objectives and other terms that strep women from their rights gradually against men.
Carina Chocano also tells her personal experience through pop culture and how media could be unfair to women as they put much pressure on them telling teenagers and young women how should they will be which in return caused some mental issues to them.
The Book of Joan – Lidia Yuknavitch
The Book Of Joan discusses feminism and gender from another level to create a very special and amusing art piece, Lidia Yuknavitch shows how Joan, a sexless human, can save the world which getting to its end due to all of violence, greed, wars, and injustice in a fantasy amazing novel.
Hunger – Roxane Gay
Roxane Gay gives her readers a huge dose of power and self-confidence in one of the most successful feminist books as she discusses how body shape and weight could define women and affect all aspects of their life. Hunger gives you the power and confidence to take your body as a fortress and something to be proud of whatever it looked like.
