Feminism is more than fighting for gender equity. It is about retelling the stories that define us, recognizing the place of woman in our shared history, now and into the future. This collection of study guides features fiction, nonfiction, and poetry all about women and their tales of triumph, pain, love, and everything in between.
Publication year 2020
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature, Mythology
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1975
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family
Tags Lyric Poem, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Mental Illness, Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Mythology
Louise Glück is among the most lauded poets in the American canon. Glück’s writing is often surgically precise in terms of formal craft, and reveals a deep emotional complexity. She addresses sadness, mourning, trauma, and individual suffering metaphorically through the natural world, mythology, autobiographical events, or universal truths. She is known for alluding to cultural myths and personas in her work, some of which appear in “Gretel in Darkness” through the perspective of young Gretel... Read Gretel in Darkness Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 1961
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender
Tags Lyric Poem, Parenting, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Gender, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Gender / Feminism, Science / Nature, Social Justice, Finance / Money / Wealth, Sociology, Business / Economics, Technology, Health / Medicine, Politics / Government, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 1988
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature
Publication year 1847
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender
Tags Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Gender / Feminism, British Literature, Victorian Period, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction
Jane Eyre: An Autobiography is a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, written by Victorian writer Charlotte Brontë and originally published in 1847 under the male pseudonym Currer Bell by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. Through Jane’s life and experiences, Brontë examines social issues including religious hypocrisy, class discrimination, and sexism. Many literary theorists and biographers—including Brontë’s friend and fellow novelist Elizabeth Gaskell—have noted numerous similarities between the novel’s events and Brontë’s personal history.The novel is... Read Jane Eyre Summary
Publication year 975
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Military / War, Religion / Spirituality, Inspirational, Gender / Feminism, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Gender, Society: Community
Tags Philosophy, Social Justice, Gender / Feminism, Education, Education, Philosophy, Politics / Government
Originally published in 1990, Justice and the Politics of Difference is a nonfiction work in the field of political theory. The author, Iris Marion Young, uses critical theory to expose the shortcomings of distributive theories of justice and calls for the empowerment of oppressed and disadvantaged social groups. She cites the claims of new social movements, such as those for civil rights, as evidence of the inadequacy of the distributive model of justice. According to... Read Justice and The Politics of Difference Summary
Publication year 1995
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Femininity
Tags Asian Literature, Social Justice, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2019
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Crime / Legal, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Biography
Published in 2019, Chanel Miller’s Know My Name: A Memoir is her first book. A harrowing account of surviving rape and reclaiming identity, Miller’s memoir documents her 2015 rape at Stanford University and its aftermath. A New York Times bestselling author, Miller provides a raw yet hopeful examination of sexual assault. Through the intersections of gender, race, and class, Miller, who is Chinese American, explores society’s treatment of survivors. Ultimately, Miller offers a hopeful journey... Read Know My Name: A Memoir Summary
Publication year 1862
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Victorian Period, British Literature, Gothic Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Victorian Literature / Period
Lady Audley’s Secret was published in 1862 and caused a stir among Victorian readers with its depiction of murder, madness, extortion, and bigamy. The novel centers on a young woman, Lucy Graham, a governess working in the village of Audley. Everyone in the village is charmed by her, including Sir Michael Audley, who was instantly smitten with her youth, beauty, and sweet demeanor. Sir Michael is a wealthy, 56-year-old widower who did not want Lucy to... Read Lady Audley's Secret Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Politics / Government, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Business / Economics, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Gender / Feminism, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Midlife, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2014
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender
Tags Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Military / War, History: World, Biography, American Civil War, Gender / Feminism, History: U.S., History: The Americas
Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War is the third book by New York Times best-selling author Karen Abbott. Though Abbott has recently changed her publishing name to Abbott Kahler, because Liar Temptress, Soldier, Spy is still printed and published as authored by Karen Abbott, this guide will refer to the author by that name. Abbott often writes about American women’s history, focusing on overlooked stories, accomplishments, and contributions of women... Read Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Gender
Tags Crime / Legal, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, Grief / Death, Latin American Literature