Almost half of the world population is female. That’s why the topic of gender equality is so crucial to all of us. We can hardly imagine that it is possible for 50% of people around us to be suppressed and abused. Feminism is one of the most obvious ways to make men and women equal.
According to UN Women, the topic of 2021 International Women’s Day is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” In this article, the Headway Media team picked 5 outstanding books to help anyone understand feminism better and realize why there is no place for abuse and harassment in our society.
Ready to dive deeper into the topic? Go on reading!
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
‘My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant to be your own person, be INDEPENDENT.’
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Many people say that feminism let women down. In fact, it is societal stigmas and stereotypes that let feminism and women down. The sisterhood movement is currently the only solution that females have in today’s world. That’s why misogyny is something that must be overthrown, and we should all be feminists.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a well-known Nigerian author, explains in her book what feminism itself means for women, how to support the movement, and why gender equality is essential not for ladies only but for men as well. You know what they say: give a woman a fish, she’ll eat for a day; give her a pen, and she’ll probably overthrow the patriarchy.
The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates
‘My mum said to me, “You know, sweetheart one day you should settle down and marry a rich man”. I said, “Mum, I am a rich man.”’
Cher
Oh, Ms. Melinda Gates. We truly doubt that there will ever be a moment when we’ll stop confessing our love and admiration for her. One can hardly say that she is not an ultimate inspiration for all hard-working and high-achieving women out there. With all the words said, it is not surprising that Melinda Gates’s book The Moment of Lift is a literary masterpiece.
This title contains dozens of arguments and motivational stories about why it is crucial to support women in the work field in the modern world. Moreover, The Moment of Lift proves that by encouraging and empowering women, our society as a whole will benefit for sure. What are you waiting for?
Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide by Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark
__‘No woman should be told she can’t make decisions about her own body. When women’s rights are under attack, we fight back.’
Kamala Harris
Female experience is extremely diverse. While it is amazing and fulfilling in many cases, it is often dangerous and frightening to be a woman. Be strong, girl; you are not alone. We share the same stories, the same fears, and the same love for true crime stories.
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, authors of Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered, are the perfect proof of this statement. Being friends and co-hosts of My Favorite Murder podcasts, they wrote this book and shared their insights on obstacles and issues they faced throughout their life. From mental health issues to sexual harassment, in Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered, they provide every fellow girl out there with actionable advice on how to survive in this not-always-safe world. Remember, if someone comments on how you look and say that your outfit is inappropriate, chances are their intelligence is far shorter than your cute mini-skirt.
Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
‘Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.’
Nancy Pelosi
Our world changes rapidly. A year ago, we couldn’t imagine all being locked in our homes and downloading Tik Tok. Yet, here we are. Strange enough, but somehow these changes do not apply that fast to females’ life. Even more, according to UN Women, pandemics affected women much worse than men, in many cases downgrading what feminism has already achieved before all this madness of 2020.
Whether you are a woman who is eager to stand with the head held high or a man who aims to encourage his mom, sister, friend, this book is for you. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg discusses why it is important for women to finally take the places they deserve at work and backlash gender inequality. 2021 is precisely the time to vaccinate the world against sexism and show everyone what it means to work like a girl.
She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
‘I’ve had heartaches, headaches, toothaches, earaches, and I’ve had a few pains in the ass, but I’ve survived to tell about it.’
Dolly Parton
Me Too. About 35% of women around the globe can say these words. Statistics is terrifying, but it doesn’t mean that we should leave it as it is and do nothing about it. Thousands of brave women shared their stories online under the #MeToo with the rise of the movement in 2017. And that wave covered the world and changed it forever.
Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, acknowledged journalists with The New York Times, brought to light stories of sexually abused women in their book She Said. Being focused mostly on Harvey Weinstein’s case, this title unfolds the truth that many females hold under the pressure of stigma and judgment from society. Standing together, we can build a world where no girl will ever have to say ‘Me too.’
The Headway Media team congratulates everyone on International Women’s Day and reminds you that while giving flowers to women on this day is nice, it is much better to show them support and encouragement. Gender equality is not a dream but a goal we all aim to achieve. And never forget: women are strong as hell.
