The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood set in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian theocracy that emerged from the former United States, where fertile women are forced into reproductive servitude as "Handmaids" to bear children for the ruling elite"
I chose this book as it is currently being banned from some schools and states in the USA due to its content which includes discussions of feminism, religious extremism, sexuality, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. I find this extremely scary that literature is being banned due to these topics being mentioned and censoring feminists and the lgbtq+ community.
Trigger warnings- Cheating
- Death
- Family Separation
- Forced Pregnancy
- Hanging
- Oppressive Government
- Prostitution
- Rape
Mahashweta (Author: Sudha Murthy)
I read this book in my childhood, and it left a deep impact on me. Written by Sudha Murthy, Mahashweta is a powerful story about resilience and self-worth. It follows the journey of Anupama, who is abandoned by her husband and family after being diagnosed with leukoderma. Despite facing rejection and hardships, she finds strength within herself and rebuilds her life on her own terms. This book beautifully highlights the importance of self-love and independence, making it an inspiring read for anyone.
Educating Rita
Educating Rita (1983) follows Rita, a working-class woman from a port city (which is assumed to be Liverpool) who decides to change her life by enrolling in university. Faced with societal expectations, she challenges the norms placed on her and shows how education can open doors, no matter where you come from.
I chose Educating Rita because I can relate to the drive to break free from societal expectations and make a better life through education. Rita’s story is a reminder that learning isn’t just for a select few; it’s a path open to anyone willing to take that first step, no matter where they come from. Rita’s courage to push past limitations and challenge ‘the system’ is something that inspires all of us who come from humble beginnings and are determined to break free from the expectations placed on us.
Farha
Farha depicts the coming-of-age experience of a Palestinian girl during the Nakba, the mass displacement of Palestinians from their homeland in 1948, exploring social dynamics of gender equality in a time of colonization. It tells us the story of 14-year old Farha who dreams about pursuing education in the city despite her father's refusal. He finally succumbs to her persistence and sends her to the city for education, at a time where Zionist militias start attacking their village. Farha then desserts her dream and returns to the village to accompany her father, only to watch her village get ethnically cleansed as everyone, including her father, gets either murdered or driven away.
The movie was written by Darin J. Sallam, a Jordanian director of Palestinian roots, based on the personal story of a Palestinian woman who survived the Nakba and fled to Syria, recounting her ordeal to Sallam's mother.
Grace O’Malley
Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Mhaol, as she is referred to in Irish) was a 16th-century pirate queen who defied the societal norms of her time by commanding ships, leading battles, and ruling over the west coast of Ireland at a time when women were expected to stay in the background. Her most well-documented story is when she sailed to London to negotiate with Queen Elizabeth I, something only ‘noblemen’ were allowed to do at the time. During the negotiation, she refused to bow or surrender, instead standing as an equal with one of the most powerful rulers in history.
As an Irishman, her story resonates with me because it reflects something deeply rooted in Irish identity: a refusal to let anyone define who we are or what we can achieve. For centuries, Ireland has fought against oppression, and Grace’s defiance against societal, gender, and class limits feels like a symbol of that enduring spirit. The fact that she stood her ground and refused to bow to the English Monarchy is a reminder that standing up to oppression is something we can all relate to.
Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu has always inspired me. Known as the "Nightingale of India" for her beautiful poetry, she was not just a freedom fighter but also a trailblazer for women in politics. She became the first woman to be the President of the Indian National Congress and later, the first female Governor of an Indian state. Her eloquent words and fearless leadership played a crucial role in India’s independence movement. She proved that intelligence, determination, and a strong voice could bring about real change, and her legacy continues to inspire women to step forward and lead.
Stella Brown
Stella Browne was a humanist, a socialist, and a feminist who campaigned tirelessly for women’s reproductive rights for over thirty years. An authority on human sexuality, she argued for easy access to effective contraception and the right to safe, legal abortion while insisting that the great variety in women’s needs and desires should be acknowledged and respected."
Due to the rise in the anti choice movement and abortions being banned across the US. I think it is important to remember the women who thought for people to access to safe healthcare, and to remember that healthcare is there for a reason and needs to be protected.
The Palestinian Women of Gaza
Seeing the heroism and the bravery of the women of Gaza throughout 18 months of Israeli genocide has made me struggle to choose only one woman to celebrate. UN Women has described the war on Gaza as "a war on women" as Israel intensifies its sexual, reproductive, and other gender-based forms of violence against Palestinian women. I therefore want to use this as a chance to celebrate all the women of Gaza, those who we have unfortunately lost and those who continue to thrive despite of the genocide, those who we have come to know and appreciate and those who we will never know their names, the women who have been forced to have unsafe pregnancies and the mothers who have lost their children, the journalists, doctors, teachers, nurses, poets, and housewives. All the women of Gaza are inspiring and deserve to be celebrated.
Edge of 17 - Stevie Nicks
LABOUR- the cacophony by Paris Paloma
Paris Paloma is a UK based artist and activist who does lots of work around gender equality.
The track is described as an anthem that addresses issues of gender inequality within societal structures. The lyrics deal with an abusive relationship in which the singer's own emotional needs are subjugated beneath her husband's expectations that she perform emotional and physical labour. It focuses on the history of women performing unpaid domestic labour, particularly homemaking and childbearing, and criticizes patriarchal expectations of women within marriage. The song also explores concepts of weaponized incompetence and the cycle of abuse."
I chose this song as it is a female rage anthem that I have listened to a lot this year and I think is important people listen to given the increase in misogyny and gendered violence happening across the globe.
Ya Taali'een El-Jabal (Palestinian Folklore Song)
Ya Taali'en El-Jabal (Hey, You, Climbing Up The Mountain) is a folkloric song believed to might have originated during the British mandate on Palestine. It was traditionally sung by women as they went up the mountain to visit their beloved ones held in captivity by invaders. While singing, they would change the lyrics and add the L sound followed by a vowel in some words to convey encrypted messages to their loved ones and confuse non-Arab speaking prison guards.
The song has been continuously revived and reintroduced by female Palestinian artists as a testament to the perseverance of Palestinian women as they endure political imprisonment themselves or lose their families to it by the Israeli occupation today. By the end of 2024, Israel was holding 3,327 Palestinians captive under "administrative detention" without any charge or trial.
Patakha Guddi (Highway)
This song has always mesmerized me with its energy and the way it celebrates the free will of a woman. Sung by the Nooran Sisters, it carries an essence of rebellion, freedom, and unshakable confidence. It’s not just a song, but an anthem that reminds us to embrace life fearlessly, break societal barriers, and move ahead with an unstoppable spirit.