Intersectional Feminism

A provocative and unflinching examination of reactionary strands within feminism that work against liberation. Lewis traces two centuries of 'enemy feminisms' from imperial feminists to contemporary TERFs, revealing how feminist rhetoric can be weaponized to reinforce rather than dismantle systems of oppression.

From the author of Factory Girls, a two-year investigative report revealing how globalization's promise of liberation paved the way for oppression. Follow three Egyptian women navigating between traditional culture and modernization demands.

One of Ms. Magazine's Most Anticipated Books of 2023. Continuing the trajectory of the Combahee River Collective, this collection brings together scholars, activists, and writers to examine how carceral liberalism masquerades as freedom while perpetuating oppression, critiquing the confluence of neoliberalism, incarceration, and patriarchy.

A powerful work by NYU professor, data scientist, and one of the few Black women AI researchers, Meredith Broussard. Reveals how tech neutrality is a myth and algorithms need accountability. From facial recognition only trained on lighter skin tones, to mortgage algorithms encouraging discriminatory lending, to dangerous feedback loops in medical diagnostic algorithms. Solution isn't making omnipresent tech more inclusive, but rooting out algorithms that target demographics as 'other.'

A sharp work by feminist writer Glosswitch exploring why women in their forties and beyond seem to enrage almost everyone. In an era of identity politics, middle-aged women are portrayed as bigoted, entitled, and morally inferior. Smith traces history to reveal why this specific form of misogyny is so rampant today. Shortlisted for the 2023 Nero Book Awards.

Through the personal experiences of historian Felicia Kornbluh's mother and neighbor, this book reveals the untold story of two grassroots movements in New York that transformed American reproductive rights politics—the fight to decriminalize abortion and the struggle against sterilization abuse.

First-generation Filipino American author Angela Garbes combines memoir with cultural analysis to critically examine mothering expectations and assumptions, revealing how American society depends on yet often overlooks the essential contributions of mothers and family caregivers.

Following her groundbreaking 'Down Girl,' Manne examines how male entitlement operates across various domains—from intimate relationships to healthcare to politics—revealing how men's unwarranted sense of privilege systematically harms women and undermines gender equality.

A vibrant manifesto for intersectional feminism that challenges beauty standards, toxic relationships, and societal expectations. Given combines personal insight with political analysis to encourage women to reject the pressure to be 'pretty' for others and embrace their authentic selves.

A powerful critique of mainstream feminism's failure to address the basic needs of marginalized women, advocating for housing, food, education, and other survival issues to be at the core of feminist agenda.

Critiques elite feminism and proposes an anti-capitalist feminist vision, linking women's liberation to economic justice, racial equality, and environmental sustainability.

A groundbreaking work written by sex workers themselves, directly challenging mainstream feminist narratives about sex work while providing theoretical foundations and political strategies for the sex workers' rights movement.

A groundbreaking philosophical analysis that redefines misogyny not as hatred of women, but as a system designed to police and punish women who challenge patriarchal norms. Manne provides a rigorous framework for understanding how misogyny functions as the enforcement branch of patriarchy.

This work demonstrates how feminist theory emerges from everyday life, exploring the revolutionary potential of the 'feminist killjoy' figure. Ahmed combines affect theory, queer phenomenology, and intersectional feminism to analyze how feminists become estranged from worlds by naming problems, and create survival strategies to cope with the walls of racism and sexism.

Connecting liberation movements across different eras and regions, from abolitionism to Palestine, demonstrating the importance of intersectional analysis in contemporary social movements.

A collection of essays that explores the complexities of contemporary feminism with humor and honesty, acknowledging that feminists can be contradictory and imperfect.

bell hooks' accessible introduction to feminism that articulates the core concepts of feminist thought in clear, simple language, emphasizing that feminism is not just for women but a political movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and sexist oppression that benefits everyone.

A foundational text of the transgender rights movement, exploring the oppressive nature of gender binaries and advocating for the liberation of all gender expressions.

This groundbreaking work systematically articulates Black feminist epistemology, introducing key concepts like the 'matrix of domination' and 'controlling images.' Collins demonstrates how Black women develop unique standpoint epistemology, resisting multiple oppressions through self-definition and self-valuation, providing a comprehensive theoretical framework for intersectionality theory and Black women's knowledge traditions.

An important collection of speeches and essays by veteran political activist Angela Y. Davis, focusing on transformations in conversations about sexism, racism, and economic equality in the late 20th century. From stories of female circumcision in Egypt to examinations of rap lyrics, to the personal politics of race, Davis's sharp and accomplished essays establish her place among the important contemporary feminist voices.

This groundbreaking semi-autobiographical work explores Mexican-American women's border identity through a blend of poetry and prose. Anzaldúa introduces the concept of 'new mestiza consciousness,' challenging traditional binary thinking and understanding borders as psychological, social, and cultural hybrid zones.

This classic work by the American Black feminist theorist re-examines feminism from an intersectional perspective, emphasizing the multiple oppressions of race, class, and gender, laying the theoretical foundation for inclusive feminism.

A foundational work of intersectional feminist theory. Through fifteen essays and speeches, Lorde explores the intersectional oppression of race, gender, class, and sexuality, creating a revolutionary theoretical framework for understanding multiple identities.

This groundbreaking work examines the experiences of Black women from slavery to the present, analyzing how the intersection of sexism and racism creates unique forms of oppression. hooks critiques both the racism of white feminism and the sexism of Black liberation movements, arguing that anti-racist and anti-sexist struggles are inseparable, laying the foundation for later intersectionality theory.

A groundbreaking collection of writings by radical women of color that brought together diverse racial voices, critiqued the limitations of white feminism, and advanced intersectional feminist development.

Analyzes the history of the American women's movement from a historical materialist perspective, revealing the interconnections of racial, class, and gender oppression.

When discussing feminist poetry, it's impossible not to mention Adrienne Rich, one of the most widely read poets of the 20th century and a renowned intersectional feminist activist. Our recommended best introductory poetry collection: 'Diving into the Wreck,' a particularly lyrical and emotionally charged collection of poems—including 'Rape,' a narrative poem often considered one of Rich's most important works.

Maya Angelou's 1969 autobiography is a milestone work that changed the literary landscape—it not only pioneered how literature discusses issues of racism, sexism, and identity, but more importantly, it redefined our understanding of the autobiographical genre itself. In this work, Angelou explores her experiences growing up in Arkansas until becoming a mother at 16. Though sometimes heavy reading (Angelou's brief narrative of childhood sexual assault runs throughout the book), 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' introduced new ways of writing women's lives to the literary world.