Books about Gender Equality

  1. Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    A guide for raising children with feminist values, and advocating for gender equality.

    From the best-selling author of, Americanah, and, We Should All Be Feminists, comes a powerful new statement about feminism today–written as a letter to a friend. A few years ago, Chimamanda Ngozi ... (Goodreads)

  2. We Should All Be Feminists

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    A call to action for an inclusive, gender-equal society through an examination of feminism.

    What does “feminism” mean today? That is the question at the heart of We Should All Be Feminists , a personal, eloquently-argued essay—adapted from her much-viewed TEDx talk of the same name—by ... (Goodreads)

  3. Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics

    by bell hooks
    Exploration of feminist thought and its applications to everyday life.

    Acclaimed cultural critic bell hooks offers an open-hearted and welcoming vision of gender, sexuality, and society in this inspiring and accessible volume. In engaging and provocative style, bell ... (Goodreads)

  4. Yes Means Yes!: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape

    by Jaclyn Friedman
    A collection of essays and personal stories that challenge rape culture and promote enthusiastic consent as the foundation of healthy sexual relationships.

    In this groundbreaking new look at rape edited by writer and activist Jaclyn Friedman and Full Frontal Feminism and He’s A Stud, She’s A Slut author Jessica Valenti, the way we view rape in our ... (Goodreads)

  5. Crusade in Jeans

    by Thea Beckman
    A teenage boy's quest to fight for justice in 15th-century Europe.

    Rudolf "Dolf" Wega is a fifteen-year-old who volunteers for an experiment with a time machine . The experiment goes well, but accidentally Dolf is stranded in the 13th century. He saves the life of ... (Wikipedia)

  6. The Mountains of Mourning

    by Lois McMaster Bujold
    Miles Vorkosigan investigates a murder in a remote village where prejudice against genetic mutations runs deep.

    Miles Vorkosigan is sent to a small mountain village to investigate the murder of an infant, killed because she had a physical defect. Miles must deal with deep-seated prejudice against "mutants" and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

    by Nicholas D. Kristof
    Examining the global struggle of women and how to empower them in the face of oppression.

    From two of our most fiercely moral voices, a passionate call to arms against our era’s most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women and girls in the developing world. With Pulitzer ... (Goodreads)

  8. Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

    by Jean Sasson
    An inside look at the life of a Saudi princess, filled with struggles and struggles for freedom.

    Sultana is a Saudi Arabian princess, a woman born to fabulous, uncountable wealth. She has four mansions on three continents, her own private jet, glittering jewels, designer dresses galore. But in ... (Goodreads)

  9. Not Without My Daughter

    by Betty Mahmoody
    A woman's dramatic fight for freedom from an oppressive husband in a foreign land.

    It was August 3, 1984. Moody, Betty, and Mahtob had spent two days traveling from their home in Detroit to Moody's native country of Iran. In preparation for their arrival, Betty, at Moody's request, ... (Wikipedia)

  10. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

    by Sheryl Sandberg
    An exploration of gender dynamics in the workplace and solutions for women to achieve success.

    Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In is a massive cultural phenomenon and its title has become an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of bestseller lists internationally, ... (Goodreads)

  11. A Room of One's Own

    by Virginia Woolf
    Examining gender roles and societal expectations with an eye to achieving independence and creative freedom.

    A Room of One's Own is an extended essay by Virginia Woolf. First published on the 24th of October, 1929, the essay was based on a series of lectures she delivered at Newnham College and Girton ... (Goodreads)

  12. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

    by Avi
    A young girl's adventures on the high seas, fighting for justice and freedom.

    The story starts in the early summer of 1832, as thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle prepares to take a voyage from Liverpool , England, to her family's home in Providence, Rhode Island . Her upper ... (Wikipedia)

  13. Lab Girl

    by Hope Jahren
    A memoir about a young woman's journey to discover her scientific calling and resilience.

    Acclaimed scientist Hope Jahren has built three laboratories in which she’s studied trees, flowers, seeds, and soil. Her first book is a revelatory treatise on plant life—but it is also so much ... (Goodreads)

  14. I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

    by Debbie Levy
    A biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female Supreme Court Justice, and her fight for gender equality and civil rights.

    Get to know celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—in the first picture book about her life—as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable! Supreme Court justice Ruth ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. Lysistrata

    by Aristophanes
    Women of Greece uniting to end the Peloponnesian War through a sex strike.

    These lines, spoken by the Athenian Lysistrata and her friend Calonice at the beginning of the play, , set the scene for the action that follows. Women, as represented by Calonice, are sly hedonists ... (Wikipedia)

  16. Pope Joan

    by Donna Woolfolk Cross
    A story of a female Pope's rise to power in a male-dominated world.

    Joan, the daughter of a priest and his Saxon wife, is born in 814 as the last of three children. When he discovers that Joan has learned to read, her father calls her “child of the devil” and blames ... (Wikipedia)

  17. How to Be a Woman

    by Caitlin Moran
    A humorous exploration of modern femininity and fighting for women's rights.

    Caitlin Moran puts a new face on feminism, cutting to the heart of women’s issues today with her irreverent, transcendent, and hilarious How to Be a Woman. “Half memoir, half polemic, and entirely ... (Goodreads)

  18. One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd

    by Jim Fergus
    In 1875, May Dodd and a group of women are sent to marry Cheyenne warriors. May's journal tells of her journey and the relationships she forms.

    Based on an actual historical event but told through fictional diaries, this,, is the story of May Dodd—a remarkable woman who, in 1875, travels through the American West to marry the chief of the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. Rebel Queen

    by Michelle Moran
    Historical fiction about Rani Lakshmibai, the warrior queen who led a rebellion against British rule in 1857 India.

    From the internationally best-selling author of Nefertitiand Cleopatra's Daughter comes the breathtaking story of Queen Lakshmi - India's Joan of Arc - who against all odds defied the mighty British ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Feminine Mystique

    by Betty Friedan
    A groundbreaking exploration of the dissatisfaction felt by women in the 1950s and beyond.

    Landmark, groundbreaking, classic—these adjectives barely do justice to the pioneering vision and lasting impact of The Feminine Mystique . Published in 1963, it gave a pitch-perfect description of ... (Goodreads)

  21. The Virgin Cure

    by Ami McKay
    A young girl in 19th century New York City is sold into prostitution and must navigate the dangerous world of sex work to survive.

    From #1 international bestselling author Ami McKay comes The Virgin Cure, the story of a young girl abandoned and forced to fend for herself in the poverty and treachery of post-Civil War New York ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

    by Irin Carmon
    Celebrating the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

    New York Times Bestseller Featured in the critically acclaimed documentary, RBG, "It was beyond my wildest imagination that I would one day become the 'Notorious RBG." — Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 2019 She ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Princess Sultana's Circle

    by Jean Sasson
    A Saudi Arabian princess shares the stories of women in her country, revealing the oppression and abuse they face.

    With Princess Sultana's Circle, the extraordinary story of Princess Sultana continues. The forced marriage of Sultana's niece to a cruel and depraved older man, and Sultana's discovery of the harem ... (Goodreads)

  24. Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace

    by Jessica Bennett
    A humorous and practical guide for women navigating sexism in the workplace, with tips and strategies for fighting back.

    A Wall Street Journal Bestseller! Named a best book of 2016 by: Chicago Tribune, Refinery 29, Forbes, Bust, CEO Reads. It was a fight club—but without the fighting or the men. Every month, women ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

    by Nujood Ali
    A young girl's fight against early marriage in Yemen and her victory in court.

    “I’m a simple village girl who has always obeyed the orders of my father and brothers. Since forever, I have learned to say yes to everything. Today I have decided to say no.” Nujood Ali's childhood ... (Goodreads)

  26. Hidden Figures

    by Margot Lee Shetterly
    A recounting of the true story of three African-American women's contributions to NASA during the space race.

    The uplifting, amazing true story—a New York Times bestseller This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It is the powerful story of four African-American ... (Goodreads)

  27. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books

    by Azar Nafisi
    Memoir of a professor's struggle in Iran, using literature to find freedom.

    The book consists of a memoir of the author's experiences about returning to Iran during the revolution (1978–1981) and living under the Islamic Republic of Iran government until her departure in ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Orange Is the New Black

    by Piper Kerman
    A memoir of a woman's experiences in prison, exploring the effects of incarceration.

    With her career, live-in boyfriend and loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the rebellious young woman who got mixed up with drug runners and delivered a suitcase of drug money to Europe over ... (Goodreads)

  29. All About Love: New Visions

    by bell hooks
    A guide to understanding the power of love and changing perceptions of love in modern society.

    All About Love offers radical new ways to think about love by showing its interconnectedness in our private and public lives. In eleven concise chapters, hooks explains how our everyday notions of ... (Goodreads)

  30. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

    by Mary Wollstonecraft
    A pioneering work advocating for the political, social, and educational rights of women.

    In the present state of society, it appears necessary to go back to first principles in search of the most simple truths, and to dispute with some prevailing prejudice every inch of ground. To clear ... (Goodreads)

  31. The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

    by Nadia Hashimi
    A young Afghan girl's struggle to break free from oppressive traditions and find her own path.

    Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel, The Pearl that Broke Its Shell is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own fate that combines the cultural ... (Goodreads)

  32. The Other Einstein

    by Marie Benedict
    A fictionalized account of the life and contributions of Mileva Maric, Albert Einstein's first wife.

    A vivid and mesmerizing novel about the extraordinary woman who married and worked with one of the greatest scientists in history, written by, New York Times, bestselling author Marie Benedict! In ... (Goodreads)

  33. I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity

    by Izzeldin Abuelaish
    A Palestinian doctor's memoir of loss, hope, and forgiveness in the midst of conflict and tragedy.

    By turns inspiring and heart-breaking, hopeful and horrifying, I Shall Not Hate is Izzeldin Abuelaish's account of an extraordinary life. A Harvard-trained Palestinian doctor who was born and raised ... (Goodreads)

  34. Women & Power: A Manifesto

    by Mary Beard
    A look at the history of female power and the cultural obstacles preventing women from achieving it.

    At long last, Mary Beard addresses in one brave book the misogynists and trolls who mercilessly attack and demean women the world over, including, very often, Mary herself. In Women & Power , she ... (Goodreads)

  35. Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women

    by Maya Angelou
    A collection of empowering poems celebrating the beauty, strength, and resilience of women.

    A collection of beloved poems about women from the iconic Maya Angelou These four poems, "Phenomenal Woman," "Still I Rise," "Weekend Glory," and "Our Grandmothers," are among the most remembered and ... (Goodreads)

  36. The Astronaut Wives Club

    by Lily Koppel
    The story of the women who supported America's early space program, showing strength and resilience.

    As America's Mercury Seven astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from ... (Goodreads)

  37. Moxie

    by Jennifer Mathieu
    A teenage girl finds her voice and learns to navigate the sexism of high school.

    Coming March 2021 as a Netflix Original Film directed by Amy Poehler! ",Moxie, is sweet, funny, and fierce. Read this and then join the fight."—Amy Poehler An unlikely teenager starts a feminist ... (Barnes & Noble)

  38. Full Frontal Feminism

    by Jessica Valenti
    A feminist manifesto that challenges gender inequality and advocates for women's rights and empowerment.

    Newly revised and updated, the #1 must-read book for a new generation of feminists who refuse to accept anything less than equality and justice for all women Now in its updated second edition, Full ... (Barnes & Noble)

  39. Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners

    by Therese Oneill
    A humorous and informative guide to the secret and scandalous lives of Victorian women, covering topics from hygiene to sex.

    Have you ever wished you could live in an earlier, more romantic era? Ladies, welcome to the 19th century, where there's arsenic in your face cream, a pot of cold pee sits under your bed, and all of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  40. The Underground Girls of Kabul: In Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan

    by Jenny Nordberg
    An exploration of the secret lives of Afghan girls who live as boys for safety, security, and independence.

    An investigative journalist uncovers a hidden custom that will transform your understanding of what it means to grow up as a girl. In Afghanistan, a culture ruled almost entirely by men, the birth of ... (Goodreads)

  41. Princess Sultana's Daughters

    by Jean Sasson
    A true story of the lives of Saudi Arabian princesses, highlighting the oppression and abuse they face in a male-dominated society.

    Readers of PRINCESS were gripped by Jean Sasson's powerful indictment of women's lives behind the veil. Now, in the compelling sequel, Jean Sasson and Princess Sultana turn the spotlight on Sultana's ... (Goodreads)

  42. Captain Pantoja and the Special Service

    by Mario Vargas Llosa

    The novel narrates the story of Peruvian Army Captain Pantaleón Pantoja, whose superiors involve him, despite his reluctance, in a mission to satisfy the sex drives of soldiers stationed in the ... (Wikipedia)

  43. Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture

    by Ariel Levy
    A critical analysis of the rise of raunch culture and its impact on women's liberation and feminism.

    Meet the Female Chauvinist Pig – the new brand of "empowered woman" who embraces "raunch culture" wherever she finds it. In her groundbreaking book, New York magazine writer Ariel Levy argues that, ... (Goodreads)

  44. أنا.. وأخواتها: رحلة في أسرار الذات

    by سلمان العودة

    عرض/ محمد وائل: يواجه كتاب "أنا وأخواتها" للدكتور سلمان بن فهد العودة، الأمين العام المساعد لاتحاد العلماء المسلمين، القارئ منذ اللحظة الأولى، حينما يغوص به في رحلة استكشافية لأعماق ذاته، محاولاً ... (Goodreads)

  45. Prayers for the Stolen

    by Jennifer Clement
    A powerful story of a young girl's struggle to survive in a Mexican village where girls are stolen and sold into slavery.

    A haunting story of love and survival that introduces an unforgettable literary heroine Ladydi Garcia Martínez is fierce, funny and smart. She was born into a world where being a girl is a dangerous ... (Goodreads)

If you enjoyed this, try uploading your goodreads reviews and seeing what recommendations we can come up with for you.