Books about Patriarchy

  1. The Handmaid's Tale

    by Margaret Atwood
    A dystopian future where women are oppressed and used as a commodity.

    After a staged attack that killed the President of the United States and most of Congress , a radical political group called the "Sons of Jacob" uses quasi-Christian ideology to launch a revolution . ... (Wikipedia)

  2. A Thousand Splendid Suns

    by Khaled Hosseini
    Two women's stories of resilience in the face of war and oppressive patriarchy in Afghanistan.

    On the outskirts of Herat , a girl named Mariam lives with her embittered and estranged mother, Nana. Mariam's father, Jalil, is a businessman who owns a cinema and lives in Herat with his three ... (Wikipedia)

  3. Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

    by Carmen Maria Machado
    Collection of surreal stories exploring the complexities of gender, sexuality and identity.

    In Her Body and Other Parties , Carmen Maria Machado blithely demolishes the arbitrary borders between psychological realism and science fiction, comedy and horror, fantasy and fabulism. While her ... (Goodreads)

  4. 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)

  5. 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)

  6. The Woman Destroyed

    by Simone de Beauvoir
    A collection of three novellas exploring the consequences of societal expectations on women's lives.

    Three long stories that draw the reader into the lives of three women, all past their first youth, all facing unexpected crises. ... (Goodreads)

  7. A Doll's House

    by Henrik Ibsen
    A woman's struggle to break from societal expectations and find her own identity.

    A Doll's House (1879), is a masterpiece of theatrical craft which, for the first time portrayed the tragic hypocrisy of Victorian middle class marriage on the stage. The play ushered in a new social ... (Goodreads)

  8. The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women

    by Jessica Valenti
    Critique of the societal obsession with female virginity and its impact on women's rights and sexuality.

    The United States is obsessed with virginity — from the media to schools to government agencies. In The Purity Myth Jessica Valenti argues that the country’s intense focus on chastity is damaging to ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories

    by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
    A collection of short stories exploring the struggles of women in a patriarchal society.

    Best known for the 1892 title story of this collection, a harrowing tale of a woman's descent into madness, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote more than 200 other short stories. Seven of her finest are ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Story of a New Name

    by Elena Ferrante
    Two young women's search for identity and independence in a patriarchal society.

    In 2012, Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend introduced readers to the unforgettable Elena and Lila, whose lifelong friendship provides the backbone for the Neapolitan Novels. The Story of a New ... (Goodreads)

  11. The Mists of Avalon

    by Marion Zimmer Bradley
    An immersive retelling of the Arthurian legend from a female perspective.

    The Mists of Avalon is a generations-spanning retelling of the Arthurian legend that brings it back to its Brythonic Celtic roots (see Matter of Britain ). The plot tells the story of the women who ... (Wikipedia)

  12. 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)

  13. Cunt: A Declaration of Independence

    by Inga Muscio
    A powerful manifesto for reclaiming the word "cunt" and its power for female empowerment.

    An ancient title of respect for women, the word cunt long ago veered off this noble path. Inga Muscio traces the road from honor to expletive, giving women the motivation and tools to claim cunt as a ... (Goodreads)

  14. 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)

  15. The Vagina Monologues

    by Eve Ensler
    A collection of stories and monologues celebrating the power and complexity of female sexuality.

    The Vagina Monologues is made up of various personal monologues read by a diverse group of women. Originally, Eve Ensler performed every monologue herself, with subsequent performances featuring ... (Wikipedia)

  16. Herland

    by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
    An exploration of a utopian society composed entirely of women, questioning gender roles.

    The story is told from the perspective of Vandyck "Van" Jennings, a sociology student who, along with two friends, Terry O. Nicholson and Jeff Margrave, forms an expedition party to explore an area ... (Wikipedia)

  17. Men Explain Things to Me

    by Rebecca Solnit
    Examines the cultural phenomenon of men explaining things to women without full understanding of the topic.

    In her comic, scathing essay “Men Explain Things to Me,” Rebecca Solnit took on what often goes wrong in conversations between men and women. She wrote about men who wrongly assume they know things ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Great Santini

    by Pat Conroy
    A family's psychological struggles centered around a domineering, military father.

    Hard-nosed Marine fighter pilot Lt. Col. Wilbur "Bull" Meecham calls himself "The Great Santini". He runs his family with a strict hand. In 1962 before the Vietnam War , the Meecham family struggles ... (Wikipedia)

  19. 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)

  20. The Governess Affair

    by Courtney Milan
    A romance between a governess and a duke, as they confront the social conventions of their time.

    She will not give up… Three months ago, governess Serena Barton was let go from her position. Unable to find new work, she’s demanding compensation from the man who got her sacked: a petty, selfish, ... (Goodreads)

  21. 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)

  22. King Kong Theory

    by Virginie Despentes
    A candid and controversial exploration of gender, power and sexuality.

    J’écris de chez les moches, pour les moches, les frigides, les mal baisées, les imbaisables, toutes les exclues du grand marché à la bonne meuf, aussi bien que pour les hommes qui n’ont pas envie ... (Goodreads)

  23. The Second Sex

    by Simone de Beauvoir
    A philosophical exploration of the history, struggles and oppression of women in society.

    Newly translated and unabridged in English for the first time, Simone de Beauvoir’s masterwork is a powerful analysis of the Western notion of “woman,” and a groundbreaking exploration of inequality ... (Goodreads)

  24. Fight Like a Girl

    by Clementine Ford
    A feminist manifesto that challenges patriarchal norms and encourages women to fight for their rights and equality.

    Personal and fearless - a call to arms for feminists new, old and as yet unrealised by one of our most outspoken feminist writers. 'With wit, insight and glorious, righteous rage, Clementine Ford ... (Goodreads)

  25. The Princess Saves Herself in This One

    by Amanda Lovelace
    A poetic exploration of healing and discovering resilience through pain, joy, and the power of self-love.

    Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Poetry (2016),, the princess saves herself in this one, is a collection of poetry about resilience. It is about writing your own ending. From Amanda ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. Sheepfarmer's Daughter

    by Elizabeth Moon
    A young woman's quest to become a knight, facing obstacles of gender and class.

    Paksenarrion — Paks for short — is somebody special. She knows it, even if nobody else does yet. No way will she follow her father's orders to marry the pig farmer down the road. She's off to join ... (Goodreads)

  27. Burned Alive

    by Souad
    A survivor's account of her brutal, harrowing experience of being burned alive by her family.

    When Souad was seventeen she fell in love. In her village, as in so many others, sex before marriage was considered a grave dishonour to one's family and was punishable by death. This was her crime. ... (Goodreads)

  28. Everyday Sexism

    by Laura Bates
    An exploration of the various ways sexism manifests in society and the need for change.

    In 2012 after being sexually harassed on London public transport Laura Bates, a young journalist, started a project called Everyday Sexism to collect stories for a piece she was writing on the issue. ... (Goodreads)

  29. 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)

  30. SCUM Manifesto

    by Valerie Solanas
    A radical feminist manifesto advocating for the overthrow of patriarchy and the elimination of men from society.

    SCUM Manifesto was considered one of the most outrageous, violent and certifiably crazy tracts when it first appeared in 1968. Valerie Solanas, the woman who shot Andy Warhol, self-published this ... (Goodreads)

  31. Iron John: A Book About Men

    by Robert Bly
    A poetic exploration of masculinity, using the Grimm fairy tale "Iron John" as a metaphor for the journey towards authentic manhood.

    In this deeply learned book, poet and translator Robert Bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it is to be a man.Bly's vision is based on his ongoing work with men and reflections on his ... (Goodreads)

  32. Nervous Conditions

    by Tsitsi Dangarembga
    A young girl's struggles to create her own identity amidst the oppressive colonial structures of her society.

    Tambu is the main character of the novel. The novel opens up with the news that Tambu’s older brother, Nhamo, had just died. Tambu is not upset about this because Nhamo studied at a missionary school ... (Wikipedia)

  33. The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls

    by Anton DiSclafani
    A young girl is sent to an equestrian boarding school in the 1930s, where she discovers secrets about her family and herself.

    “Emotionally engaging...[A] romantic page turner.”—Michiko Kakutani,, The New York Times, “A sexy, suspenseful, gorgeously written book.” —Curtis Sittenfeld, author of, Prep, A propulsive novel about ... (Goodreads)

  34. Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women

    by Susan Faludi
    An investigation into the cultural and political forces that have led to a backlash against women's rights and progress in America.

    Skillfully Probing the Attack on Women’s Rights “Opting-out,” “security moms,” “desperate housewives,” “the new baby fever”—the trend stories of 2006 leave no doubt that American women are still ... (Goodreads)

  35. How Not To Be a Boy

    by Robert Webb
    A humorous yet poignant look at the expectations of men and the search for self-acceptance.

    Rules for being a man: Don't Cry; Love Sport; Play Rough; Drink Beer; Don't Talk About Feelings But Robert Webb has been wondering for some time now: are those rules actually any use? To anyone? ... (Goodreads)

  36. A Lost Lady

    by Willa Cather
    A portrait of a beautiful and charming woman, Marian Forrester, as seen through the eyes of a young boy.

    The novel is written in the third person, but is mostly written from the perspective of Niel Herbert, a young man who grows up in Sweet Water and witnesses the decline of Mrs. Forrester, for whom he ... (Wikipedia)

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