By Romy Hansen
According to Janice Williams from feminist organisation Object! Women Not Sex Objects, fiction by and about women is of great importance in the continued fight for equality. “They are important. Many girls in the English-speaking world first hear about feminism from the feminist content in thought-provoking fiction,” says Janice. In light of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we look back at some of the must-read feminist novels by female authors in the past 100 years.
Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
Jong’s controversial novel from the 1970s is a shameless, honest and fearless tale of women seeking sexual adventure. The novel has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and is often attributed with laying the groundwork for the second wave of feminism in the United States.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
Award-winning author and fierce feminist Adiche explores how race, gender and nationality shape the life of protagonist Ifemelu who seeks a better life in America and England after leaving her native Nigeria.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a brutal and explicit insight into poverty, sexual abuse, domestic violence and institutionalised racism. Walker's powerful voice paints a daunting yet hopeful picture of black womanhood.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Atwood’s gripping dystopian tale of female oppression and suffering in a world of totalitarian male dictatorship is as distressing as it is brilliant. The bone-chilling story shows the dangers of collective ignorance in a patriarchal society and is not only terrifying but terrifyingly plausible.