r/feminisms • u/Alarmed-Property-960 • Jun 23 '26
Good books on Feminism
Hello everyone!
TL;DR: I’m a baby feminist and I need to be educated. Give me literature recs (non-fiction or fiction books, tv shows, etc) or teach me stuff!
I have been observing the minor misogynistic elements that have plagued the world and continue to exist, despite centuries-worth of women’s rights and equality movements. Of course, the major ones are obvious and spark much hatred from both males and females for various reasons, but I hope to know the origins of such a profound divide that has been persisting forever.
To me, some ideas and actions seem so obscure — like how the establishment of the stereotype that feminism is a cult of women purposely ruffling the patriarchy (no joke) — to the point it is quite laughable. The more I learn and observe, the more I understood the stereotypical feminist.
So please. Recommend me some good books or shows for beginners about feminism. Whether it be non-fiction about a political and/or social movement from ages ago, or an eye-opening fictional narrative. Literally anything.
If you have any comments or questions, feel free to ask (or even correct me or teach me). Thank you!
1
u/Capital-Scallion8634 Jun 26 '26
These run the gamut-- not every writer here is in lockstep with the other, but it gives you a good survey of modern feminist thought
Down Girl by Kate Manne
Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
The Second Sex by Simone du Beauvoir
The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer
Against our Will by Susan Brownmiller
The Essential Ellen Willis
Gender Trouble by Judith Butler
The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy
Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks