14 Must Read Books On Women’s Rights

Nashville, August 1920. Thirty-five states have approved the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote; one last state–Tennessee–is needed for women’s voting rights to be the law of the land. The suffragists face vicious opposition from politicians, clergy, corporations, and racists who don’t want black women voting. And then there are the “Antis”–women who oppose their own enfranchisement, fearing suffrage will bring about the nation’s moral collapse. And in one hot summer, they all converge for a confrontation, replete with booze and blackmail, betrayal and courage. Following a handful of remarkable women who led their respective forces into battle, The Woman’s Hour is the gripping story of how America’s women won their own freedom and the opening campaign in the great twentieth-century battles for civil rights.

The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make helps moms make good decisions for the success of her family in the face of legal constraints that limit her freedom. In many settings, a divorced woman has fewer rights than when she is married. When children are involved, the laws keep her tethered on a short leash to the person she is trying to put at a healthy distance.

Civil Rights leader Malcolm X once stated that the most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. Shut’em Down sheds light on the meaning behind this quote and how racism impacts the lives of Black women who work in Corporate America. This anthology contains the stories of 20 Black women who willingly share their hurts, pains and truths when it comes to being a Black woman in Corporate America.

I’m particularly drawn to this book as someone who helps progressive leaders advance anti-racism where they work, I know that their ability to identify systemic racism and sexism is paramount. That said, it can be difficult to recognize racism and sexism happening when they’re hidden in policies, procedures, and workflows. I like that this book offers up an intersectional look at real accounts of that happening in the American justice system where rights were denied. History is a great teacher! Hopefully reading this book offers some insight into how you can recognize when the rights of women, particularly BIPOC women, are removed in systemic ways in places where you have the position and power to spark change.

This book empowers women to live the life of their choosing, unapologetically and bravely. In a good year, this can be challenging. In the midst of a pandemic, for many it feels impossible. While VanCort’s book is timeless, it is the critical resource women need now, offering a roadmap to emerge from the pandemic even stronger.  Essential, comprehensive and relatable, this is book for women of all races, ages, and ethnicities who want to claim (or reclaim!) space physically, emotionally, socially and professionally. The book features a wide range of powerful practical tools- from posture and voice, to defeating antimentors, to overcoming impostor syndrome and reflects VanCort’s purposeful approach to intersectional feminism and antiracist communication. Fun, edifying, and transformative, it is truly for every woman.

Be inspired by this compelling tour de force of sisterhood. Shelly Rachanow’s book is full of powerful, courageous women who are getting vitally important sh*t done. One small action can inspire a movement. As these women have shown, a movement can change minds…and ultimately the world.

With a space background and a mission to democratize access to space, this female astronaut candidate offers a front row seat to the final frontier. From her adventures training for Mars to testing spacesuits in microgravity, this unique handbook provides inspiration and guidance for aspiring astronauts and girls in STEAM everywhere.

In this book you will meet women who refused to remain on a Victorian pedestal. Enjoy a fascinating and sometimes humorous glimpse into the lives of over one hundred, 19th-century Victorian era American women who refused to whittle themselves down to the Victorian model of proper womanhood. Included in Wild Women are 50-black-and-white photos from the era.

In this journal designed for teenage Black girls, MJ Fievre tackles topics such as family and friends, school and careers, body image, and stereotypes. By reflecting on these topics, you will confront the issues that can hold you back from living your best life and discovering your Black girl bliss.

A hugely entertaining and compelling book, Amazons, Abolitionists and Activists tells the stories of powerful women throughout history since prehistoric times to modern day. Presented in graphic novel format, this wonderfully illustrated book includes warriors, spies, queens and many incredible women I had never heard of before. The author Mikki Kendal covers important movements such as women’s right to vote, education, reproductive rights, right to own property and much more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will share it with my friends and my daughters.

Raising the Bar: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the ACLU Women’s Rights Project by Ruth and Amy Leigh Campbell is a great book that goes into Ruth’s work to forward women’s rights during a 10 year period in 1971 to 1981, including her work on the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. This is a great Women’s Rights book that shows the impact a single individual can have on moving forward rights for women.

This book by Keisha N. Blain is one of the highest rated books on Amazon right now, and it talks about how black women have struggled as a community to get center stage. The book talks about how black women have struggled to get their rights in the community today. These women stood up in national and global politics to make room for themselves from the early 20th century to 1960s. It talks about the Garvey and Black Power movement as well, which are amongst the most important movements in black history. If you’re a feminist, and believe in equal rights for all, then this book is a definite read!

This book is about ten notable personalities who fought for women’s right to vote. The book talks about this journey that is 70 years long and the commitment it required from these people. This book talks about well-known figures, such as Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth to lesser-known women such as Alice Paul and Mary Church Terrell. This is a great book for inspiration as it talks about lessons from each women’s life. This book introduces to strong women who raised their voices for justice and can inspire you in the same direction.

The book, “Pussy” is a staple women’s rights read because it dives into some of the most overlooked elements around what women can access in life — through pleasure. From addressing stigmas, post-agricultural era behaviors in patriarchal westernized society, Thomashauer speaks from first hand experiences and shares stories from numerous cultures around the power and prowess women possess, why so many women struggle with “claiming” these rights in Western culture, and provides actionable (wildly entertaining) content around how to empower yourself as a woman in 2020/2021.