Intersectional Feminism - Books

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.

A sharp deconstruction of contemporary white feminism, revealing how the performance of 'sass' and 'girl squads' serves to consolidate privilege rather than dismantle oppression.

Emmy Award-winning journalist Elizabeth Flock's groundbreaking investigative work exploring what few dare to confront: the role and necessity of female-led violence when institutional protections completely fail. Through three immersive narratives of real women who fought back, this book challenges us to rethink what justice, self-defense, and women's safety truly mean.

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 groundbreaking work from strength coach and social justice educator Chrissy King that blends memoir, inspiration, and practical exercises. The book reveals how diet culture and the fitness industry are rooted in white supremacy and Eurocentric beauty standards, moving beyond body positivity to something more revolutionary: body liberation, recognizing that none of us are free until all of us are.

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.

Award-winning science journalist Angela Saini's groundbreaking exploration challenging assumptions that male dominance is natural to the human species. Through archaeology, scientific research, and global cultural histories, this book reveals how patriarchy emerged around 7,000 years ago, spread through colonialism, and why understanding this history is crucial for achieving genuine gender equality.

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.

An extraordinary work of memoir and investigative journalism by award-winning Gitxsan journalist Angela Sterritt who survived life on the streets. Combining personal narrative with in-depth investigation into Canada's missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), this book reveals how colonialism and racism created a society where Indigenous women's lives are ignored and devalued, while proving that Indigenous women's strength and brilliance is unbroken.

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 poetically written and sharply critical exploration of the unspoken pain, anger, and alienation hidden behind the myth of the 'model minority.' Cathy Park Hong dismantles the racial and social hierarchies of American society through the lens of her own experiences as an Asian American woman.

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.

A sweeping historical novel set on the Korean island of Jeju, following the intersecting fates of two female divers over several decades. From the Japanese colonial era through the Korean War and into the present, the story depicts the resilient lives, solidarity, and ultimate forgiveness of women caught in the tides of history.

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.

Liberating 'motherhood' from middle-class privilege to reconstruct it as the most radical practice of social transformation. A groundbreaking anthology on love, survival, and collective liberation by women of color, queer people, the poor, and low-wage caregivers.

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.

The moving memoir of the girl who fought for her right to education and survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban at age fifteen. A powerful record of life in Pakistan's Swat Valley, family bonds, and the courage of an individual standing against extremist oppression.

A raw and powerful record of a girl growing up amidst poverty, violence, and rigid social expectations in Jamaica, winning her freedom through poetry and her own voice. It reveals the truth behind the illusion of 'paradise' while exploring biracial identity, sexuality, and the reclamation of self.

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.

Joan Wallach Scott's 1988 landmark work establishes gender as a central category of historical analysis, profoundly challenging biological determinism and essentialism in traditional historiography, and laying a solid foundation for feminist historical theory.

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.