Feminist Reads

Feminism is more than fighting for gender equity. It is about retelling the stories that define us, recognizing the place of woman in our shared history, now and into the future. This collection of study guides features fiction, nonfiction, and poetry all about women and their tales of triumph, pain, love, and everything in between.

Publication year 2019

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Anthropology, History: World, Science / Nature, Race / Racism, Anthropology, Gender / Feminism, Sociology, Biography, Politics / Government

Gods of the Upper Air: How a Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century, was written by Dr. Charles King, and published in 2019 by Penguin Random House. King is a professor of International Affairs and Government at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and the author of 10 books, predominantly on the subject of society, government, and culture in Eastern Europe. Gods of the Upper Air is a New... Read Gods of the Upper Air Summary


Publication year 1987

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Society: Colonialism, Identity: Femininity

Tags Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Immigration / Refugee, Gender / Feminism, Indian Literature

“Good Advice Is Rarer Than Rubies,” a short story written by Salman Rushdie, was first published in The New Yorker in 1987 and then reprinted in East, West, a collection of Rushdie’s short stories published in 1994. This anthology divides the stories into three sections: “East, “West,” and “East/West.” “Good Advice Is Rarer Than Rubies” can be found in the “East” section. Most of this story takes place in a shantytown next to the British... Read Good Advice is Rarer than Rubies Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Biography, Sports, Gender / Feminism, Health / Medicine, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)


Publication year 2020

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature, Mythology


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1975

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family

Tags Lyric Poem, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Mental Illness, Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Mythology

Louise Glück is among the most lauded poets in the American canon. Glück’s writing is often surgically precise in terms of formal craft, and reveals a deep emotional complexity. She addresses sadness, mourning, trauma, and individual suffering metaphorically through the natural world, mythology, autobiographical events, or universal truths. She is known for alluding to cultural myths and personas in her work, some of which appear in “Gretel in Darkness” through the perspective of young Gretel... Read Gretel in Darkness Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Natural World: Space & The Universe

Tags Gender / Feminism, History: U.S., Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Science / Nature, History: World, Biography

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race is a 2016 nonfiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly. Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where her father worked at Langley Research Center, on which the book is centered. Thus, she knew firsthand both the story and many of the people involved. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the business school at the University of... Read Hidden Figures Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 1961

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender

Tags Lyric Poem, Parenting, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Gender, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Gender / Feminism, Science / Nature, Social Justice, Finance / Money / Wealth, Sociology, Business / Economics, Technology, Health / Medicine, Politics / Government, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)


Publication year 1988

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature


Publication year 1847

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender

Tags Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Gender / Feminism, British Literature, Victorian Period, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction

Jane Eyre: An Autobiography is a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, written by Victorian writer Charlotte Brontë and originally published in 1847 under the male pseudonym Currer Bell by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. Through Jane’s life and experiences, Brontë examines social issues including religious hypocrisy, class discrimination, and sexism. Many literary theorists and biographers—including Brontë’s friend and fellow novelist Elizabeth Gaskell—have noted numerous similarities between the novel’s events and Brontë’s personal history.The novel is... Read Jane Eyre Summary


Publication year 975

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Military / War, Religion / Spirituality, Inspirational, Gender / Feminism, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1990

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Gender, Society: Community

Tags Philosophy, Social Justice, Gender / Feminism, Education, Education, Philosophy, Politics / Government

Originally published in 1990, Justice and the Politics of Difference is a nonfiction work in the field of political theory. The author, Iris Marion Young, uses critical theory to expose the shortcomings of distributive theories of justice and calls for the empowerment of oppressed and disadvantaged social groups. She cites the claims of new social movements, such as those for civil rights, as evidence of the inadequacy of the distributive model of justice. According to... Read Justice and The Politics of Difference Summary


Publication year 1995

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Femininity

Tags Asian Literature, Social Justice, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2024

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War

Tags Biography, History, History: European, WWII / World War II, History: U.S., Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Crime / Legal, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Biography

Published in 2019, Chanel Miller’s Know My Name: A Memoir is her first book. A harrowing account of surviving rape and reclaiming identity, Miller’s memoir documents her 2015 rape at Stanford University and its aftermath. A New York Times bestselling author, Miller provides a raw yet hopeful examination of sexual assault. Through the intersections of gender, race, and class, Miller, who is Chinese American, explores society’s treatment of survivors. Ultimately, Miller offers a hopeful journey... Read Know My Name: A Memoir Summary


Publication year 1862

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Victorian Period, British Literature, Gothic Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Victorian Literature / Period

Lady Audley’s Secret was published in 1862 and caused a stir among Victorian readers with its depiction of murder, madness, extortion, and bigamy. The novel centers on a young woman, Lucy Graham, a governess working in the village of Audley. Everyone in the village is charmed by her, including Sir Michael Audley, who was instantly smitten with her youth, beauty, and sweet demeanor. Sir Michael is a wealthy, 56-year-old widower who did not want Lucy to... Read Lady Audley's Secret Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Politics / Government, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Business / Economics, Biography