Reading books about feminism can be an easy way to get to know the movement, its theory and be inspired by what the authors have to say. Although, if you are starting your path through this type of reading, it’s easy to be stuck in the same speech.
Feminism is plural, it has a lot of different contexts and necessities. That’s why it’s important to have a diversified section of stories. Just like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Nigerian writer and activist, would say: “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”
Inspired by this, we brought five literary works written by women from different parts of the world that you should know about.
1. I Am Malala – Malala Yousafzai – Pakistani
Malala has now won the Nobel Peace Prize and she’s an activist for women’s rights and education all over the world. But her story had begun when the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan – her home – and prohibited women’s access to education. She decided to speak out and, on October 9th of 2012, coming back from school, she almost died when a bullet hit her head.
Considered a miracle, she put all her strength and fight in her biography, which talks about her story as a Muslim girl and her mission for women’s educational rights.
Also, the Brazilian journalist and writer, Adriana Carranca, has written a children’s version of Malala’s story. ‘Malala, A Menina Que Queria Ir Para Escola‘ (Malala, The Girl That Wanted To Go To School), is the book that tells Malala’s story most read by young students in Brazil. Adriana has helped spread Malala’s inspiring words all over the country and the world.
2. We Should All Be Feminists – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Nigerian
In 91 pages, Chimamanda – one of the brightest names of 21st-century feminism – defines why we should all be feminists, by explaining the importance of the movement to increase political actions and her personal experience as a black woman. The book is actually an adaptation of her admired TEDx talk. A must-read to easily start your way through feminism.
3. Quem Tem Medo Do Feminismo Negro? – Djamilia Ribeiro – Brazilian
Who is afraid of the black feminism? was written by one of the main leaders of the black feminist movement in Brazil, Djamila Ribeiro. The public intellectual, writer, philosopher, and social justice activist discusses in her book how patriarchy affects differently on black girls. Also, her personal process through her cultural and race self-identity discovering.
4. Fearless Females: The Fight for Freedom, Equality, and Sisterhood – Marta Breen – Norwegian
This one is a feminist novel comic book, in which Marta Breen, with illustrations by Jenny Jordahl, tells the story of the feminist fight over political, sexual, educational, economic and many other rights that have been achieved over the past 150 years. Designated for anyone who wants to learn about feminism and its important figures.
5. The Soul Of A Woman – Isabell Allende – Chilean
Isabell Allende, writer and journalist, is considered the world’s most-read Spanish author and a big feminist activist.
“When I say that I was a feminist in kindergarten, I am not exaggerating.”, says Isabell in the novel.
In this book, she compares her own battles with the feminist aspects and reaffirms the importance of the movement throughout her whole life. Also, always with the feminist perspective, the writer talks about recent events, just as the political situation in Chile, the #MeToo movement – which she supports -, Covid-19 and many other social dilemmas.
Hopefully, with that list of inspiring women from different realities all over the world, we could all be a little more open to new ideas, perspectives and needs that the intersectional feminism context can bring.
—————————————————————–
The article above was edited by Camila Lutfi.
Liked this type of content? Check Her Campus Casper Libero home page for more!