Exploring Feminist Literature

In 2016, the Presidential election sparked a great divide in American communities and ultimately altered the political climate of America. 53 %of White women voted for Donald Trump— 69 percent of Latina women and 94 percent of Black women voted for Hillary Clinton. Yet, the true question at hand is how can women unite in America? ............................................................................................................. Many scholars and activists claim feminism and some feminist theory is the best approach to unify various communities of woman. Yet, what exactly is feminism? Feminism is a range of social and political movements, and some ideologies that aim to define, and possibly establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes, and sexual identities.

Feminist movements have campaigned and continue to campaign for women's rights, including the right to: vote, hold public office, work, earn equal pay, own property, receive education, enter contracts, have equal rights within marriage, and maternity leave. Feminists also work to ensure access to legal abortions and social integration, and to protect women and girls from rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. And that’s just to name a few— cisgender women are not the only feminists in the world. There are multiple professional organizations or associations of feminist movements and organizations. Feminist theory, which emerged from feminist movements, simply aims to understand the nature of gender inequality by examining gender politics, and women's social roles and lived experience; yet, it also has developed other theories in a variety of disciplines— in order to combat issues concerning gender, and sexuality.

Intersectionality broadens the lens of the first and other waves of feminism— largely focused on the experiences of women who were both white and middle-class, to include the different experiences of women of color, women who are poor or live below the poverty line, immigrant women, and other groups. Intersectional feminism aims to separate itself from white feminism by acknowledging women's different experiences and identities.

Intersectionality is a theoretical framework for understanding how aspects of a person's social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege. These intersecting and overlapping social identities may be both empowering and oppressing.

Your Favorite Librarian wants to utilize feminist theory, intersectional feminism and Gender Studies. There is a book for you!

Check out this collection of titles to jumpstart your research on Feminism or the additional electronic resources.

Honorary Electronic Feminist Literature Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female by Frances M. Beal HERESIES: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics by Heresies Collective The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm by Anne Koedt Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde Feminism and Nationalism in the Third World by Kumari Jayawardena Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment by Patricia Hill Collins Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker Black Sexual Politics: African Americans, Gender and the New Racism by Patricia Hill Collins The Dark Abode by Sarojini Sahoo Bad Feminist: Essays by Roxane Gay Feminist Africa