My Top Five... International Women's Day

This International Women's Day, we've chosen five excellent books written by women, focusing on specifically feminist themes and in keeping with the official theme for 2016's IWD - Pledge for Parity.  


A global day which focuses on celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, it also encourages everyone, of any and all genders, to pledge to help achieve gender parity and therefore true equality. Here in the Yeovil College Learning Resource Centre and Quiet Study Area, we've also prepared displays and resources to encourage and inspire our college community to further action and achievement.


Here are our Top Five reads for International Women's Day 2016 - all available to borrow from the Learning Centre today.


1) "I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai (Quick Reads edition)

This incredibly captivating and moving autobiography from a  truly inspirational young women is an absolute must read for International Women's Day. Malala is the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and has valiantly fought for the rights of girls and young women to be educated, making her a target for the Taliban, who shot her in the head at point-blank range in 2012. This Quick reads edition is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to find out more about this incredible individual in her own words.








2)  "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood.

This groundbreaking feminist dystopia remains startlingly horrific, relevant and thought-provoking. In a future where a fundamentalist religious and totalitarian elite rule over the United States, women are subjugated and tightly controlled by enforced conformity to Biblically precedented roles. Offred's one function in this society is to breed. Quietly she begins to resist and subvert her fate. A highly recommended read.








3) "The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou" by Maya Angelou

An emotionally honest, fiercely intelligent and tremendous writer, this collection of six autobiographies by the writer, poet, playwright and civil rights activist Maya Angelou is one of the most incredible books you'll ever read. Starting with her upbringing in the Deep South and dealing with extreme racism, violence, child abuse, and rape, her writing is searing, inspiring, harrowing and deeply moving.










4) "The World's Wife" by Carol Ann Duffy

This thoroughly enjoyable, subversive and poignant collection of poems reclaims and retells the tales of women excluded from myth, history and popular culture - from Mrs Aesop, Anne Hathaway and Delilah to Queen Kong and Elvis' sister. Its a great reminder of the importance of truly hearing and valuing women's myriad voices, experience and stories; something we, as a library, are passionate about.




5) "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China" by Jung Chang

An autobiographical epic spanning three generations, "Wild Swans" focuses on the experiences and lives of three women during a time of turbulent change, war and political upheaval. From the story of her grandmother, concubine to a warlord, to her mother's Communist activism and eventual betrayal by the Party, to the author's own experiences as a Red Guard, a peasant, a barefoot doctor and journey to London to study, it's a fascinating and incredible book which is both a deeply involving, whole hearted memoir of impossible times, and an incisively intelligent and detailed social history.




What reads would you recommend this International Women's Day? Which female authors do you find inspirational? Tell us in the comments below, or tweet us @YC_Reading