Whether unequal rights, lower salaries, or lack of education, women have had it tough since the beginning of time. We’ve always had to stick together, and it’s because of a handful of powerful women that we now have more rights than before. So if you’re looking for a good read on the topic, I suggest the following five books:
On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madame C.J. Walker, by A’Lelia Bundles
Written by her great-great-granddaughter, this biography tells the story of America’s first female self-made millionaire. This book takes you from slaves to riches as this pioneering entrepreneur and philanthropist built a beauty empire while becoming an advocate for African American women’s rights.
The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank
Anne Frank’s diary is a powerful account of her life hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. The thirteen-year-old girl gives us deeply personal insight into the horrors of the Holocaust while she was in hiding during World War II, all while remaining resilient until her death in 1945. Warning: This book isn’t for the light-hearted.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
This novel talks about a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells were taken and studied without her knowledge. Thereon known as HeLa, these cells were immortal, proving to be one of the most important tools in medicine. Skloot explores the topic of ethics in scientific discovery and the impact Lacks’ cells had on medical research and, of course, her family.
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, this memoir recounts a tale of determination to pursue education under Taliban rule in Pakistan, which ended in Malala being shot in the head by a Taliban gunman. This book will take you on a journey of courage and survival as you dive into her ongoing global campaign for girls’ education.
Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
This autobiography is a compelling narrative that takes you from Ali’s traditional childhood in Somalia to her emergence as a leading advocate for women’s rights. The book detailed Ali’s life challenges, including her escape from an arranged marriage and her quest for freedom in the West.
