The Penguin Book of Feminist Writing ed by Hannah Dawson (2021)
This anthology draws on poems, novels, memoirs and manifestos to paint a picture of feminism and the struggle against sexism and inequality from the 15th Century to the present day.
Edited by Hannah Dawson, senior lecturer in the history of ideas at King's College London, and with a new essay by her, this book looks at the way race, class, capitalism, imperialism and more intersect with gender and the patriarchy.
For an understanding of the long fight for women’s equality, this is an essential read.
Inferior by Angela Saini (2018)
For centuries, we’ve been told by science – the ultimate in impartiality – that men and women are fundamentally different. But is that really true?
In Inferior, science journalist Angela Saini looks into the gender wars in biology, psychology and anthropology, tracing how the idea that men and women are different developed, and to what extent it’s correct.
Saini takes readers on a journey into how women are being “rediscovered” by science, creating an alternative view where women are included, and society is moving to becoming more equal.
Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly (2018)
Women’s anger is often seen as a negative trait, a sign that women are “too emotional”. Being calm in the face of inequality is seen as a positive, and for those that don’t comply, there are plenty of names that are bandied about. But, argues Soraya Chemaly in Rage Becomes Her, anger is a really useful tool for positive change, and in fact the most important resource women have.
Underpaid, overworked and often diminished in the workplace and in society at large, women have plenty of reasons to be angry. Chemaly analyses anger as it relates to a number of topics, including self-worth, objectification and pain, and looks at how repressing anger causes women harm.
Rage Becomes Her will make you feel inspired to make a change, and learn how to use anger in the battle for women’s equality.
