5 books by female writers to read ahead of International Women’s Day
- From ‘Hidden Figures’ to a novel by the acclaimed Toni Morrison, these works honour the resilience of women across cultures and generations
- ‘Bright Young Women’ tells the missing stories in true crime, while ‘Invisible Women’ exposes the data bias in scientific research
Check out our list of our favourite books by female writers! Which ones have you read? Photo: ShutterstockAhead of International Women’s Day on March 8, we at Young Post want to highlight the stories that inspire ladies across different cultures. Here are five books written by female authors that honour the contributions and resilience of women throughout history and in our society today.
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
“Anger in women is treated as a character disorder, as a problem to be solved, when oftentimes it is entirely appropriate, given the circumstances that trigger it.”
While many true crime stories focus on or even glamorise violent and dangerous perpetrators, this novel gives a voice to female victims. Based on American serial killer Ted Bundy’s real-life crime spree, the story follows two women who are on a quest to catch the notorious killer before he commits another murder.
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Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
“Even as a professional in an integrated world, I had been the only black woman in enough drawing rooms and boardrooms to have an inkling of the chutzpah it took for an African-American woman in a segregated southern workplace to tell her bosses she was sure her calculations would put a man on the moon.”
Before Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, a group of African-American female mathematicians and engineers worked as “human computers” to make this mission possible. Based on actual events, this book captures the wonderful stories of these courageous and talented African-American women in the face of discrimination and segregation.
The Island of Sea Women: A Novel by Lisa See
“No one picks a friend for us; we come together by choice. We are not tied together through ceremony or the responsibility to create a son; we tie ourselves together through moments. The spark when we first meet. Laughter and tears shared.”
Set on the remote island of Jeju in South Korea, this novel delves into the unique culture of the haenyeo, female divers who have been the primary breadwinners in their families for generations. The story follows the friendship and hardships of two haenyeo, Young-sook and Mi-ja, spanning several decades and tumultuous historical events. See beautifully captures the complexities of female friendships and highlights the resilience of women.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
“Along with the idea of romantic love, she was introduced to another – physical beauty. Probably the most destructive ideas in the history of human thought. Both originated in envy, thrived in insecurity, and ended in disillusion.”
This debut novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, a young African-American girl growing up in Ohio during the years following the Great Depression. Pecola longs for blue eyes, believing they will bring her the beauty and acceptance she desires in a society that idolises whiteness. It explores the damaging effects of society’s emphasis on physical beauty and how the idealised standards impact womanhood.
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez
“It’s not always easy to convince someone a need exists, if they don’t have that need themselves.”
Leaders around the world make laws, products and services based on data. But what if this data is biased towards one group? The gender data gap refers to a lack of comprehensive research on women’s experiences, needs, and contributions to society, which results in decision-making that often does not take into account the impact on women. This book delves into how data bias leads to gender inequality in areas such as healthcare, the workplace and even transport. It calls for greater recognition and inclusion of women’s experiences and needs.