15 groundbreaking books to celebrate International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women across the world. First observed in 1911, this global day now marks a movement for gender equality and recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political contributions of women.

One of the most powerful ways to honor this day is by reading and amplifying the voices of women who have shaped feminist literature, challenged norms, and inspired change. This list features 15 groundbreaking books about womanhood, written by prominent female authors from different parts of the world.

These books explore identity, feminism, history, and personal strength, offering something for every reader looking to celebrate women’s voices. To ensure a global perspective, I have included authors from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Set in the early 20th century American South, The Color Purple follows Celie, a young Black woman who endures a life of abuse, separation from her sister, and systemic oppression. Through letters to God and her long-lost sister, Celie slowly finds her voice, strength, and love in unexpected places. This deeply moving novel is a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the unbreakable bonds between women.

• Themes and representation: Racism, sexism, LGBTQ+ identity, resilience, self-discovery.
• Written by: Alice Walker (USA), the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
• Trigger warnings: Domestic abuse, sexual assault, racism, misogyny.

2. Beloved by Toni Morrison

Set after the Civil War, Beloved follows Sethe, an escaped enslaved woman haunted by the ghost of her lost child. Morrison masterfully explores the generational trauma of slavery and the cost of freedom.

• Themes and representation: Slavery, motherhood, trauma, love, memory.
• Written by: Toni Morrison (USA), a Nobel Prize-winning author known for her powerful narratives on Black identity.
• Trigger warnings: Slavery, violence, trauma, child loss.

3. Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

A collection of essays and speeches, Sister Outsider is a foundational text in intersectional feminism. Lorde critiques racism, sexism, and homophobia while offering an inspiring vision of activism and change.

• Themes and representation: Intersectionality, feminism, activism, LGBTQ+ identity.
• Written by: Audre Lorde (USA), a Black lesbian feminist, poet, and activist.
• Trigger warnings: Discussions of racism, sexism, and oppression.

4. A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

An intergenerational novel about Palestinian-American women struggling with tradition, oppression, and self-agency within their conservative community.

• Themes and representation: Arab feminism, generational trauma, women’s agency.
• Written by: Etaf Rum (Palestine/USA), a Palestinian-American author.
• Trigger warnings: Domestic violence, oppression, trauma.

5. Know My Name by Chanel Miller

In this memoir, Chanel Miller reclaims her identity after being known as “Emily Doe” in the Brock Turner sexual assault case. She sheds light on the failures of the legal system and the resilience it takes to heal.

• Themes and representation: Survivor advocacy, sexual violence, resilience, legal system critique.
• Written by: Chanel Miller (USA/China), an American writer and artist.
• Trigger warnings: Sexual assault, legal trauma, victim-blaming.

6. Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa

A genre-blending work that combines poetry, memoir, and theory, Anzaldúa examines cultural identity, queerness, and the experiences of Chicanas living in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.

• Themes and representation: Cultural identity, gender, sexuality, intersectional feminism.
• Written by: Gloria Anzaldúa (USA/Mexico), a Chicana feminist scholar and queer theorist.
• Trigger warnings: Discussions of cultural conflict, discrimination, and identity struggles.

7. Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg

This groundbreaking novel follows Jess Goldberg, a gender-nonconforming lesbian navigating life in a hostile society. It’s an unflinching look at queer struggles and working-class resilience.

• Themes and representation: LGBTQ+ identity, gender nonconformity, labor rights.
• Written by: Leslie Feinberg (USA), a transgender activist and author.
• Trigger warnings: Homophobia, transphobia, violence, workplace discrimination.

8. Circe by Madeline Miller

A feminist reimagining of Greek mythology, Circe tells the story of the infamous sorceress, transforming her into a powerful woman who defies the gods and carves her own path.

• Themes and representation: Mythological retelling, female empowerment, autonomy.
• Written by: Madeline Miller (USA), an American author known for her feminist interpretations of Greek mythology.
• Trigger warnings: Violence, abuse, sexual coercion.

9. The Birth of the Maitreya by Bani Basu

Blending mythology and history, this novel explores feminism through the lens of Hindu mythology, questioning traditional gender roles.

• Themes and representation: Women in mythology, Indian history, gender roles.
• Written by: Bani Basu (India), an Indian author.
• Trigger warnings: Gender oppression, religious conflict.

10. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

A heartfelt memoir about grief, food, and family, Zauner reflects on her Korean American identity and her complicated relationship with her late mother.

• Themes and representation: Grief, identity, immigrant experience, mother-daughter relationships.
• Written by: Michelle Zauner (USA/Korea), musician and lead singer of Japanese Breakfast.
• Trigger warnings: Death of a parent, illness, grief, depression.

11. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

A chilling yet realistic novel about an ordinary South Korean woman whose life reflects the everyday struggles of women in a deeply patriarchal society.

• Themes and representation: Gender roles, societal expectations, feminism in South Korea.
• Written by: Cho Nam-joo (South Korea), a feminist author.
• Trigger warnings: Gender discrimination, workplace harassment, postpartum depression.

12. Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang

This biography challenges the male-dominated narrative of Empress Dowager Cixi, the woman who modernized China while battling political enemies and gender-based discrimination.

• Themes and representation: Women’s leadership, history, Chinese feminism.
• Written by: Jung Chang (China/UK), a Chinese-British historian.
• Trigger warnings: Political oppression, historical violence.

13. The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara

A queer, feminist retelling of Martín Fierro, this novel transforms Argentina’s national epic into a story of freedom, love, and reimagined history.

• Themes and representation: LGBTQ+ identity, Latin American history, feminism.
• Written by: Gabriela Cabezón Cámara (Argentina), an Argentine writer.
• Trigger warnings: Colonialism, gender-based discrimination.

14. So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ

Written as a letter, this novel tells the story of a woman navigating widowhood and polygamy in Senegal, offering a critique of marriage and gender roles in African society.

• Themes and representation: Widowhood, polygamy, feminism, African womanhood.
• Written by: Mariama Bâ (Senegal), a pioneering feminist writer.
• Trigger warnings: Gender discrimination, societal oppression.

15. The Years by Annie Ernaux

A memoir that blends personal and collective memory, The Years follows the life of a woman while documenting shifting social attitudes toward feminism and womanhood.

• Themes and representation: Memory, feminism, womanhood, history.
• Written by: Annie Ernaux (France), a Nobel Prize-winning author.
• Trigger warnings: Sexual harassment, societal oppression.

Each of these books highlights different facets of womanhood, feminism, and resilience, offering stories that challenge, inspire, and empower. This International Women’s Day, take the time to read, reflect, and uplift the voices of women who continue to shape our world through literature.

Which of these books have you read, and what would you add to the list? Let’s celebrate women’s voices together!