Mothers are great and you’d be hard pressed to find someone who would care more for you than your own in this cold, cold world. Still, many of our mothers grew up in a very different time under very different societal norms, norms that are a bit inappropriate for our current culture.
Many of them never even had the chance to know the ideology and movement that has been for a century fighting tooth and nail for the equality of their rights, much less to know they had rights. Terrible, to say the least. But is never too late to learn, you can be the catalyst of that learning by introducing them to the best feminist books for mothers.
#1 The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin
The book is geared to moms who’ve been in the game for a while and have gotten a bit lost in Motherhood. It’s not a you need a man book . . . it’s all about empowering yourself to get unstuck. |
Prices across many e-commerce websites may vary, be sure to compare to get the best deal:
- Amazon (International)
- The Book Depository (International)
- Waterstones (International)
- Audible (International)
#2 The Uterus’ Guide to Raising a Baby by Trina Folse
When you’re pregnant, you don’t know what to expect and while there are many lengthy books out there about pregnancy, this is the type of book that keeps it light while being informative. The illustrations are great and it helps you come to terms with the many changes up ahead. A nice gift for an expectant mom. |
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- Amazon (International)
- The Book Depository (International)
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- Audible (International)
#3 Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World
The book title is self-explanatory; it covers 50 women and girls who have changed their world for the better. Inclusive history is extremely important— children shouldn’t just learn about a certain set of historical figures who only conform to one race or gender. They have to be exposed to various people who may (or may not!) look like them and learn that anyone from around the world, regardless of their background and especially of their gender, can accomplish great feats. |
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#4 The Little People Big Dreams Series
The series launched in 2016 with biographies of strong female role models like Frida Kahlo, Maya Angelou, and Amelia Earhart, and is a perfect fit for moms and kids to read together. Now with over 20 titles in the series, this year four outstanding men join the list: Stephen Hawking (Feb 2019), Muhammad Ali (Feb 2019), Mahatma Gandhi (April 2019), and David Bowie (May 2019). The biographies are unique in that they tell the story of how each started as a child with big dreams and grew up to accomplish great things. |
Prices across many e-commerce websites may vary, be sure to compare to get the best deal:
- Amazon (International)
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#5 Step Into Your Power: 23 lessons on how to live your best
This book shows you how to make your big dreams a big reality—inspiring girls and moms and women of all ages. Learn from the lived experience of author Jamia Wilson and illustrator Andrea Pippins as they mentor you through growing up in the modern world, and teach you how to STEP INTO YOUR POWER. ‘Slay your fear!’ ‘You’ve got this!’ ‘Take heart and trust your gut!’ In this friendly guide, ‘big sister’ Jamia Wilson helps you achieve your dreams and know your rights with caring advice and actions you can take and make your very own. Explore what it means to know and trust your insights and capabilities with stories, images, activities, resources and action prompts that you can interact with on your own time and, most importantly, on your terms. |
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#6 Create Your Me Movement: An Empowering Guided Journal for Girls
The tween and teen years can be confusing and frustrating, especially for girls trying to develop their own voice and identity. With the Create Your Me Movement, teen girls finally have a guided journal designed just for them. This collection of 52 weekly exercises and writing prompts guides you through recording your goals and standards, and determining ways to reach them. The guidance from author and teen advocate Patricia Wooster comes from four major categories: Play, Spirit, Strength, and Purpose. With these journaling assignments, you will take the principles behind starting a social movement—advocacy, patience, developing relationships, and managing time and resources—and apply them to your everyday life, fostering a sense of identity, confidence, and assurance in who you truly are. |
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#7 The Book of Awesome Women by Becca Anderson
Women hold up half the sky and, most days, do even more of the heavy lifting including childbearing and child-rearing. All after a long day at the office. Women have always been strong, true heroes – sheroes, oftentimes unacknowledged. As we shake off the last traces of a major patriarchal hangover, women are coming into their own. In the 21st Century, all women can fully embrace their fiery fempower and celebrate their no-holds-barred individuality. It is time to acknowledge the successful women of the world. From the foremothers who blazed trails and broke barriers, to today’s women warriors from sports, science, cyberspace, city hall, the lecture hall, and the silver screen, The Book of Awesome Women paints 200 portraits of powerful and inspiring role models for women and girls poised to become super women of the future. |
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#8 Deep Breaths: The New Mom’s Handbook to Your Baby’s First Year by Michelle Pearson
You’ve survived pregnancy and now you have a newborn baby. What’s next? You open up Deep Breaths by Michelle Pearson-and maybe take a few deep breaths of your own. This isn’t your grandma’s parenting book. YouTube parenting vlogger, Michelle Pearson, brings her inspiring and motivating parenting stories, tips, and tricks for the modern millennial mom. From what to expect as the pregnancy develops to the milestones within the first 12 months, Michelle knows that the journey will have highs, lows, and the occasional unexpected surprise on social media. In her book, she details what to expect during pregnancy and the first year of motherhood, the importance of finding your mother tribe, how to embrace motherhood with all of its ups and downs, and how to continue managing your career-and your social life-now that you have a newborn to care for. In Deep Breaths, Michelle will help you figure out what kind of mom you want to be-and how to become her. She will walk you through the good, the bad, and the ugly. And she will show you how to find, define, and embrace the mother within you-all while maintaining a delicate balance and taking the time to pamper yourself, sometimes, too. |
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#9 The Female Gaze: Essential Movies Made by Women by Alicia Malone
Alicia Malone has curated the essential list of films made by women. From Mary Herron’s film American Psycho garnering a reputation as a Classic to Greta Gerwig’s film Lady Bird dominating the Golden Globes and the National Society of Film Critics Awards, it is about time women in film were more thoroughly discussed. Alicia Malone is determined to grow the conversation about both the lack of women behind the scenes and in the history books through her own book, The Female Gaze. In the mini-essays written by female film critics, discover brilliantly talented and accomplished women filmmakers, both world renowned and obscure, who have shaped the film industry in ways rarely fully acknowledged. |
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#10 Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen
I was raised with the motto: “Well behaved women rarely make history.” That is what this book is about. Women who misbehaved – in progressive ways! Not only is it a tribute to the rebel inside all of us feminists, but also it is perfect for a feminist mom. These are heroes for her and her children to look up to. |
Prices across many e-commerce websites may vary, be sure to compare to get the best deal:
- Amazon (International)
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Trina Folse from The Uterus’ Guide to Raising a Baby
Shiwon Oh from Fueled
Angela Corpus from The Quarto Group
Brenda Knight from Mango Publishing
Candess Zona-Mendola from MakeFoodSafe