Books that Feature the Theme of Femininity

This thematic Collection highlights Books that Feature the Theme of Femininity. Through novels, plays, and works of nonfiction, the selections in this Collection explore the feminine experience in a variety of historical settings and cultures as they examine topics such as gender roles, feminism, and what it means to be feminine.

The Female Brain

by Louann Brizendine

Publication year 2006

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Femininity, Masculinity, Gender Identity, Childhood & Youth, Aging, Midlife, Marriage, Mothers, Nature Versus Nurture

Tags Psychology, Science & Nature, Health, Self-Improvement, Gender & Feminism, Relationships, Love & Sexuality

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The Feminine Mystique

by Betty Friedan

Publication year 1963

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Femininity, Education, Economics

Tags Gender & Feminism, US History, World History, Love & Sexuality, Women`s Studies, Sociology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics & Government

Betty Friedan’s 1963 The Feminine Mystique is considered a classic text of feminist non-fiction. It was enormously influential in kick-starting the second wave of feminism, a movement that began in the 1960s advocating increased rights and new social roles for women. By voicing the despair that many women felt, The Feminine Mystique galvanized readers across the US to join the feminist movement and prompted others to at least to take its criticisms of mid-century American... Read The Feminine Mystique Summary

The Fifth Child

by Doris Lessing

Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Disability, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Birth, Childhood & Youth, Appearance & Reality, Nature Versus Nurture, Daughters & Sons, Family, Marriage, Mothers, Siblings, Social Class, Beauty

Tags Horror & Suspense, Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction

The Fifth Child is a novella by British writer Doris Lessing, recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature. First published in the UK in 1988, the work blends domestic realism and gothic horror in an unsettling portrait of Harriet and David Lovatt, a couple with old-fashioned values whose lives are upended by the birth of their fifth child, Ben. Aggressive, unusually strong, and non-communicative, Ben does not conform to the Lovatts’ expectations of a... Read The Fifth Child Summary

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

by Carrie Ryan

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hope, Femininity, Coming of Age, Death, Environment, Family, Self Discovery, Community, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

Carrie Ryan’s young adult novel The Forest of Hands and Teeth (2009) uses a literary voice to blend elements of several different genres, including horror, romance, and dystopian fiction. The story follows Mary, a teenage girl growing up in the aftermath of a world ravaged by hordes of the undead. As she struggles to defy her community’s rigid rules, she must also confront existential challenges like love, loss, and the constant threat of death at... Read The Forest of Hands and Teeth Summary

The Foundling

by Ann Leary

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Friendship, Femininity, Equality

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, World History, Mental Illness

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The Fraud

by Zadie Smith

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Justice, Femininity, Race, Literature, Trust & Doubt

Tags Historical Fiction, Victorian Period, British Literature, Race & Racism, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History

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The Frozen River

by Ariel Lawhon

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Birth, Animals, Family, Mothers, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Gender & Feminism

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The Games Gods Play

by Abigail Owen

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Loneliness, Love, Femininity, Sexual Identity, Death, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Good & Evil, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance

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The Girl Who Played With Fire

by Stieg Larsson

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Femininity, Mental Health, The Past, Politics & Government, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Scandinavian Literature

The Girl Who Played With Fire is the 2006 sequel to Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2005). As a crime fiction novel, the story focuses on solving the murders of Dag Svensson, Mia Johansson, and Nils Erik Bjurman, for which the series protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, is the prime suspect. In addition to tracking the murder investigations, the novel examines The Impact of Trauma on Personal Development, The Role of Appearances and Media... Read The Girl Who Played With Fire Summary

The Golden Gate

by Amy Chua

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Power & Greed, Justice, Immigration, Equality, Femininity, Mental Health, Truth & Lies, Social Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Race & Racism, Love & Sexuality, Social Class

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