From Caitlin Moran's joyful bestseller to Doris Lessing's radical novel, we round-up the feminist titles to inspire and galvanise.
Words by Ella Alexander. All images are courtesy.
Women have achieved a great deal over the last 100 years, thanks in part to the great canon of feminist literature which has shone a light on gender inequalities. Whether you want to educate yourself, a partner or a backward-thinking relative (we all have one), our guide to the best feminist books will change the way you think about gender inequality and what it means to be a woman today. Some take the form of compelling manifestos, while others take the form of imaginative prose, but each one draws attention to the progress that needs to be made. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a start.
This article first appeared on Harper’s Bazaar UK
Caitlin Moran’s bestseller is arguably the most joyful approach to womanhood to be found in book form. Each chapter breaks down a different part of being a woman, from getting your period to having sex, with humour, insight and intelligence. It loosely follows Moran’s life, from child to thirty-something, drawing on her own experiences in a way that is relatable and reassuring. What Moran does so well in How To Be A Woman (and in all her work) is to see everything through the prism of joy. She acknowledges the injustices and hardships of being a woman, but also empowers us all to be ourselves and to see the good in the world.
