As a fan of science fiction writing, it’s not often feminism takes the focus in stories I read.
In such a male-dominated field of literature, it is difficult to find a story with a female character as the lead, or one without women in the background being sexualized or forgotten about.
When searching for my top short stories to share, I was frustrated at the lack of representation in the genre. The majority of science fiction literature is written under a perspective that follows the story of a man’s struggles; such stories include female characters that reinforce gender stereotypes and the fundamentals of the patriarchy.
It’s obviously important that science fiction incorporates gender inequalities that are present in society today, however, it’s even more imperative that we are aware of how world-building can be used as an effective tool to show what society can look like when the gender-gaps are filled.
There is an array of authors out there who strive to push feminist ideals in the genre. Most of the time, you just have to keep an open and active mind when digging for them.
I’ve put together a list of four short stories that push the boundaries of inclusivity and equality in science fiction—all written by female authors.
1. A Birthday — Esther M. Friesner (1995)
This is a short story I chose to read for a technology class that had a message I instantly grew a fondness for. It was nominated for the 1996 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and won that year’s Nebula Award.
I won’t spoil the dark twists and climax, but the story paints an elusive picture of a “birthday party” the main character will be attending later that night—something we can’t piece together until the ending scene.
The story follows a woman’s day in her life in a dystopian society in which abortion clinics are ostracized. There’s a sense of resentment and social stigmas placed on a woman when she gets an abortion. The anecdotal style makes it an allegorical teaching on the hardships surrounding pregnancy and abortion for many reasons.
Even though Friesner’s work is from 1996, the feminist themes are very relevant in today’s post Roe v. Wade system of law. This story is definitely worth a read for anyone because its themes can resonate in each and every one of us, along with suspense and trauma that draws the reader’s attention.
2. Singing My Sister Down — Margo Lanagan (2004)
As another twisted story, the imagery here served to critique the way society treats women as lesser than. Lanagan’s story was nominated for eight prestigious awards and won three.
The piece is dark from the very beginning, as a girl’s family speaks to her daughter sinking into a tar pit. The twist is that this is a public execution, rather than an emergency, dragging out the spectacle of a sad moment.
The conversational tone made me as a reader feel a closeness to the situation and to the grief that goes through her brother’s head. We know early on that she committed murder in her marriage. While on a first glance, that raises some eyebrows, throughout the tale we can empathize with what the situation has come to be for the girl and her loved ones.
For such a dystopian version of capital punishment, the story reflects on historical and gendered treatment of women. I found myself thinking of the Salem Witch Trials, but there are countless histories that specifically align with the dehumanization of women. I thought the read is favorable to audiences that can appreciate the dramatization of reality in presenting themes.
3. Selkie Stories Are For Losers — Sofia Samatar (2013)
“Selkie Stories Are For Losers” is a narrative adaptation of Celtic mythology to a woman’s traumatic life. It received four nominations in 2013 and 2014, including the notable Nebula and Hugo awards.
The first-person internal dialogue of the main character is a mechanism for uncovering her and her friend Mona’s parental traumas and losses. She has a romantic relationship with her friend Mona. It is not often in science fiction I see queerness take the forefront, especially between two women, but their sapphic relationship is well-written and meaningful to diversifying the genre.
This story stood out to me in particular because it is so different from traditional science fiction written in a man’s perspective. It explores familial roles and expectations a woman is held to, especially in a male-dominated workspace. It’s not a long read and I enjoyed how it differentiated from elements of science fiction we see used so often.
4. The Sound Of Children Screaming — Rachael K. Jones (2023)
Last but certainly not least is Rachael K. Jones’ critique on the horrors students and teachers face during school shootings. This most recent short story was nominated in both 2023 and 2024 for Nebula and Hugo awards along with the 2023 Bram Stoker Award for Short Fiction.
The story is split up into scenes where after being threatened by “The Gun,” Michelle leads her students to escape through a portal to a fantastical world. Only this place is deceptive, and Michelle must fight to bring her students home. She breaks the continuous cycle of blurring fantasy and reality, but cannot save her students from the grief they will face at school. It’s a particularly dark piece but serves to comment on social constructivism of fear and loss and breaks traditional female roles in science fiction.
The empowerment of Michelle as a strong female lead resonated with me and shapes salvation through a feminist lens. It is notable that Jones has written the story in a whimsical way while maintaining an acknowledgement and awareness of grief. The commentary on modern activism in preventing school shootings serves as empowerment in the role of a teacher.
While the roles of each female character vary, what each story has in common is the authors’ intentions to bring injustice to light and promote equality in science fiction writing. From a piece written in 1995 to a 2023 short story, the themes of each remain extremely relevant to a reflection on the real world. I hope to see more advocacy fostered through a rise in diverse perspectives in sci/fi literature to come.