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.
Publication year 2014
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community
Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Social Justice, Politics / Government
“We Should All Be Feminists” is an essay by Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Adichie is also the author of the novels Half of a Yellow Sun, which won the Orange Prize, and Americanah, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award. “We Should All Be Feminists” is based on Adichie’s December 2012 TED talk. In the essay’s introduction, Adichie states that her aim in delivering the speech was to challenge stereotypical notions of feminism.Adichie... Read We Should All Be Feminists Summary
Publication year 1942
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, History: World, Technology, Technology, Biography
West With the Night (1942) is a memoir by Beryl Markham. Markham writes about her childhood among indigenous Kenyans, who accepted and included the English girl in their traditional customs. The author grew up hunting with a spear and speaking Swahili while also learning about raising and training racehorses from her father, Charles Clutterbuck. The danger and adventure she experienced as a child became the hallmarks of her living experiences as an adult. A chance... Read West with the Night Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2024
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Humor
Publication year 2017
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Modern Classic Fiction
Lesley Nneka Arimah is a Nigerian writer who has lived in the United Kingdom and the United States. What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky is her debut collection of short stories, many of which have received literary awards, such as the O. Henry Prize and two awards for African writers: the Caine Prize and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. At the heart of her stories, both realistic and speculative, are relationships... Read What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Gothic Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Play: Drama, Play: Comedy / Satire, Politics / Government, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Immigration / Refugee, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Humor, Politics / Government, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1976
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Gender / Feminism, Religion / Spirituality, History: World, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Midlife, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction
When Life Gives You Lululemons is a novel by American author Lauren Weisberger. Originally published in 2018 by Simon & Schuster, the novel is the third installment in Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada universe. The title is preceded by the bestselling 2003 novel The Devil Wears Prada and its 2013 sequel, Revenge Wears Prada. In this third novel, Weisberger continues Emily Charlton’s story, years after leaving her life and career at the fashion magazine Runway... Read When Life Gives You Lululemons Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags History: World, Biography, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, History: World
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Femininity
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Business / Economics, Bullying, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1848
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Marriage, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 1891
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality
Tags Love / Sexuality, Lyric Poem, Education, Education, American Literature, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Psychology, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Birth, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger