Patriarchy is a socially created system in which men hold the most power. It has an impact on many parts of society, including political leadership, business management, religious organizations, economic systems, and property ownership. Throughout history, this concept has gradually become ingrained in the home as a family-based institution, where men are regarded as the sole provider.
Throughout the years, challenging the patriarchy has become something of a feat for women and feminist individuals all over the world. While it’s worth acknowledging that this has certainly been attempted for several generations, it will most likely take many more years before we dismantle it completely. However, there are many methods in which we might help to destroy this social construct in which men hold the majority of power. The first question we must ask ourselves is, “What can I do to end patriarchy?” You can begin by educating yourself on issues concerning women’s rights and empowerment, and what better way to learn about an issue than to read about it?
Here is our list of the top feminist literature works you should be reading if you’re seeking the motivation to smash the patriarchy and burn it all to the ground.
1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Beautiful, strong, aging, and secretive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo is now finally ready to reveal the truth about her scandalous life and seven marriages. But, when Hugo chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more surprised than Monique herself.
In the book, we follow Evelynーall the way from the beginning, when she loses her mother and is forced to live with her abusive father. Her body develops promptly, and she learns to exploit it to get what she wants from men. Hugo quickly realizes that, in order to pursue her acting career, she must give up some things, including her one and true love. Evelyn is torn between her ethnicity, sexuality, misogyny, and the pressure she feels to comply with social norms to keep her position.
Evelyn is a very complex character; she is defiantly unapologetic with her actionsーa trait that’s one of the most empowering things I’ve ever seen a character possess. To put it quite simply, Evelyn is a powerful woman who is not intimidated by anything or anyone. She quickly learns how to play each man she is compelled to interact with and what she can gain from every one of them after she realizes that, in a world ruled by males, a woman can only do one of two things: surrender to the male figure or utilize them to her advantage.
2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Plath’s pioneering work tells the story of Esther Greenwood: a young, talented, and intellectually-gifted aspiring writer whose goals are crushed by her patriarchal society, resulting in a vast and heartbreaking depression.
The book examines women’s roles in society, as well as society’s expectations as to what women should prioritize, such as marriage and children. Plath also discusses key issues like the desire and disillusionment of being a young woman in a male-dominated world. Esther’s character finds herself in a situation where none of her prior interests can fill the void inside her, and so she must decide what her next step in life will be, whether to adhere to what society perceives to be a woman’s duty, or rediscover her passion for the things she loves, such as reading and writing.
The novel also presents an intriguing, but sadly relatable, concept of ambition. This is presented throughout the protagonist’s humble beginnings, her lifelong financial struggles, and her arrival in New York, where she loses all the drive and desire to do what she’s truly passionate about.
This is a great novel with a powerful and truthful message for all women struggling to find themselves and their place in a sexist and misogynistic world.
3. Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe, the immortal daughter of a naiad and Helios, the sun god, is rejected and misunderstood by the Greek gods and her own family for failing to fulfill the expectations of what is regarded as a powerful and beautiful goddess in Greek mythology.
In this vivid and dramatic book, Circe deconstructs the notion of the Gods’ perfection, scorning their outer beauty and exposing their inner flaws. The novel also serves as a reminder that women who are close to powerful and popular leaders are not one-dimensional, non-personality, secondary characters; but rather, they possess their own ambitions and desires. Circe’s character symbolizes the standards a woman must meet to be accepted in a patriarchal society. In Greek mythology, the goddess Circe is portrayed as the goddess of death and misfortune, unworthy of the affection awarded by her male counterparts.
Unlike Homer in The Odyssey, Miller gives Circe’s character positive qualities and transforms her into the first feminist figure in the Greek pantheon. Full of significant themes such as female companionship, self-determination, toxic masculinity, and personal growth, this book is an essential and highly recommended piece of feminist literature. The author’s writing style is unique and exquisite, allowing the reader to acquire a sense of how things feel, look, and sound.
4. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
Have you ever tried to explain something to a man and then had them explain it to you in a condescending and superior manner? If you’ve done so, you’ve engaged in what’s known today as the phenomenon of “mansplaining,” a word coined by Solnit.
Men Explain Things to Me, a compilation of humorous, rage-inducing essays by Rebecca Solnit, not only popularized this iconic term, but is also widely regarded as one of the best feminist novels of all time. From narrating tidbits of important feminist history to the discussion of the eponymous topic of having your knowledge explained to you, the author dives into some of the most important aspects of the modern feminist experience of women. This book is simple to read, thought-provoking, and shockingーall at the same time.
The term mansplaining originated from a mixture of “overconfidence and cluelessness,” according to Solnit. Sounds familiar? I think we all know a guy that fits the description.
5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I know what you’re all probably thinking: A classic? Boring! Nonetheless, I highly suggest you believe me when I say that Little Women is one of the first and most important works of feminist literature ever written.
Alcott may not have planned to write a feminist book when she presented the story of Jo, Beth, Amy, and Meg but, as soon as she did, she became one of the first feminist writers along with Virginia Woolf. As time went on, the sisters’ character became an example to all women, encouraging them to defy expectations about what a woman’s role in society should be. The unconventional sisters of Louisa May Alcott show us that there are many ways to be a woman, and that we should not be ashamed to be our authentic selves or try to adhere to any societal expectations that dictate how we should behave, act or live.
In the book, Jo March’s character defies assumptions about what a woman’s occupation is by refusing to marry a guy for his money, and instead pursuing her passion and dream of becoming a famous writer. With this beautiful novel, Alcott brings to life the notion of an unconventional-yet-brilliant woman who works hard for what she wants. The author also discusses the difficulties of being a woman in the 1800s, including how marrying was mostly an economic obligation for women who sought a solid financial future, as well as the things they had to give up, such as their dreams and aspirations, in order to fulfill their assumed duty within society.
Reading is both entertaining and informative, and these books will certainly allow you to travel through time and understand what is perceived to be a “true” woman in society since the beginning of time.