FEMINIST LITERATURE RECOMMENDATIONS

With the resurgence of writers like Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf within the newer generations, feminist literature has also become a widely consumed genre in recent years. While it isn’t one of the most popular genres, it has considerably risen in popularity compared to the time of first-wave feminism. Here, I have compiled five essential pieces of feminist literature

1. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

A Room of One’s Own was based on two lectures that Woolf gave at women’s colleges at the University of Cambridge. Technically categorized as an extended essay, this piece follows an alternate timeline in which Shakespeare had a sister who was equally as brilliant (maybe even more so), but was never heard from as she did not have her own source of income or room. Through this parable, Woolf asserts that women have the potential to be brilliant, but because of the limitations that society imposes on them, they are doomed to never be seen or heard. A Room of One’s Own was perhaps one of the most important feminist writings of its time as it advocated for economic and social freedom for women, and empowered them to explore their intellectual potential.

2. The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath by Sylvia Plath

One cannot make a list of essential feminist literature without including Sylvia Plath. Plath was known for pioneering confessional poetry, which often focused on feminist themes. The Unabridged Journals chronicle Plath’s life from the time she was in college to her marriage to famous English poet, Ted Hughes. These diaries include Plath’s mental struggles, creative process, and day-to-day life. They also provide an insight into her distinctly confessional & feminist work, as well as how they came to be. While many critics describe Plath as immature due to her suicide at thirty-years-old, it is an unshakeable fact that she pioneered confessional poetry & was a key figure in second wave feminism. Additionally, she is an essential writer to read if you have an interest in feminist literature, or even literature in general. 

3. The Idiot by Elif Batuman

While The Idiot isn’t explicitly feminist, it focuses on female identity and change as the narrator, Selin, goes through her first year of college. When she starts at Harvard, Selin struggles a bit with socializing in an untraditional sense. She becomes fast friends with her roommates, but throughout her narration, it is clear that she doesn’t always know how to respond or react in social settings. On top of that, she engages in a universal female experience–having an on & off relationship with an older boy. The novel has a plotless nature, which may be unappetizing to some readers, but it ultimately mirrors the author’s personal experiences and makes for an interesting stream of consciousness. Additionally, it gives the novel a better ground for connecting with readers & making the story seem that much more real as it doesn’t exaggerate the narrator’s experiences.

4. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

Anne Bronte, who was the lesser-known of her two sisters (Charlotte & Emily Bronte), is often overlooked as a classic feminist writer. She published two books in her lifetime, Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. The Tenant was the first book published in Europe about a woman escaping her abusive husband & going on to lead a happier life. This was a historic development for feminist literature, because not only did Helen Graham successfully leave her husband, but she also broke barriers by challenging the cult of domesticity’s beliefs. Despite Anne being the lesser-known sister, she was the bravest of all of them. Although her novel faced several criticisms for the way she portrayed Helen’s abusive husband, it still remains an essential piece of feminist literature.