March is Women’s History Month. If you’ve found yourself in a reading slump or somehow have free time during this semester, I’ve compiled a short recommendation list, with its central focus around women’s history. Through both fiction and nonfiction alike, feminist literature has existed for centuries. Female authors have historically been overlooked or not given the credit they deserve. However, whether its Women’s History Month, or just an average Thursday, you should work to integrate more female-authored works into your library collection.

The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood (1985)

Speculative, Dystopian fiction – 300+ pages

Offred lives her life as a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a patriarchal and totalitarian society. Her name serves as a symbol of her status in life – Offred meaning “Of Fred” – showing that she is merely property to her family. As a Handmaid, her life is reduced to her biological function as a vessel for creating life for her family. 

The story follows Offred’s life as a handmaid, and the tiring trials and tribulations she’s put through. The part that stands out to me the most is that Atwood, the book’s author, stated she didn’t use any event that hadn’t previously happened in human history.

Not a big reader? Find the 2017 TV Drama on Hulu or Disney+.

The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas (2017)

Realistic fiction – 450+ pages

When looking at the cover, you can see that ‘The Hate U Give’ is meant to spell out THUG. Angie Thomas’s YA novel follows high school student Starr Carter, a 16-year-old girl who lives ina  predominantly Black neighborhood, but attends a more wealthy, mostly white school. Starr’s life is seemingly flipped upside down when she witnesses the unreasonable death of her best friend, Khalil. The media portrays Khalil as a thug and as a threat to the police officer who ultimately took the young man’s life during a simple traffic stop. The novel follows Starr’s contemplation about whether to speak up for him and find her voice, or to fade back in the background.

The book explores themes of racism, police brutality, activism, and the concept of code-switching. The novel is heavily inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as the author’s own experiences.

Not a big reader? You can find the 2018 movie on Apple TV.

Lessons In Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus

Historical fiction – 400 pages

Elizabeth Zott is a female chemist in 1960s California. Naturally, given the era, her career is derailed by sexism, leading her to become the unlikely star of a television cooking show ‘Supper at Six’, where she integrates chemistry in efforts to teach women to challenge the status quo. 

‘Lessons In Chemistry’ is witty, poignant, and manages to balance serious issues while keeping a light tone. It also was awarded “Best Book of the Year’ by The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Not a big reader? Find the 2023 miniseries on Apple TV or the Roku Channel.

Women in the Picture: Women, Art, and the Power of Looking – Catherine McCormack (2021)

Art history, theory, feminist non-fiction – 230+ pages

Art historian Catherine McCormack evaluates and critiques how women have historically been depicted in Western art and visual culture. She challenges and analyzes restrictive female roles in art history and contemporary media, and reinterprets works done by male artists through a feminist lens, questioning their portrayal of women.

McCormack focuses on the idea of the ‘male gaze’ and challenges readers to look again at the artworks she highlights in her book, encouraging a more critical view and recognizing the power of representation to shape our understanding of women and female power.

Becoming – Michelle Obama (2018)

Memoir, Biography – 430+ pages

Michelle Obama’s memoir spans several decades. Beginning in her childhood in the 60s, through her years as the First Lady of the United States from 2009-2017. The book provides an intimate life at Obama’s life, her experiences as being the first African American woman to serve as first lady, and her activism and advocacy work that she fought for throughout her years in office and beyond. 

Her memoir covers themes of self-discovery, defining success on her own terms, separate from her husband’s career. The idea of ‘becoming’ is a continuous and lifelong process, not a final state achieved. She speaks about her resilience and the process of overcoming barriers, navigating racism, sexism, and personal obstacles. 

Not a big reader? Find the documentary on Netflix or Tubi. 

Edited and Reviewed by John Ratliff II