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A study of
Five Feminist Books & Their Reviews

Submitted to:

Pro. Muhammad Saeed

English Department
Institute of Southern Punjab
Multan.

Submitted by:

Sohail Imran Khan

M.Phil English (2020-2022)
Semester : 1st
Book #1 | The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan is a masterpiece. If anyone wants to read one book
about feminism, this book is the one. In this book, Betty Friedan showcases the hidden, yet
immense problems women faced during the 1950’s. This book gave a new life to feminist
movement in America & propelled it into its second wave. Though this book revolves around
spotlighting the small problems women faced in America in 50s, yet it inspired generations of
women & paved the way for universal feminist movements. It’s rightly considered a feminist
manifesto.

Book # 2 | Unbought and Unbossed by Shirley Chisholm

Unbought and Unbossed is a feminist autobiography by Shirley Chisholm. Shirley Chisholm
was first ever African-American congresswoman in America. In this book, she has told the story
of her struggle for women’s right speciallyfor black women in an America that was
predominately racist towards African-American women in 60s. It’s not just an autobiography of
first African-American congresswomen of America but also a critical expose of the social,
political & economical problems she had to face as black woman in America.

Book # 3 | My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem

Gloria Steinem is a feminist icon. “My Life on Road” by her is a look-back at five decades of
feminist movements. In this book, she has explained how being a feminist changed her
perception of life. My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem is also a harsh critique of Betty
Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. In her book, Gloria Steinem says that Friedan's focus was on
white middle-class only & it damaged the feminist movement.

Book # 4 | We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Adichie

If you really want to understand what feminism is, then this book by Chimamanda Adichie
should be your go-to source. In this book, which is actually an essay adopted from her TED Talk,
she dispels all the myths about feminism. In her essay, Adichie tells how the divide between
men and women is not just harmful for women but also impacts men negatively as well. We
Should All Be Feminists emphasizes about how women's rights are as important as men's rights
& that they are not opposite to each-other. Adichie explores the myriad variations of inequality
and beliefs around feminism.
Book # 5 | A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf is an interesting & charming feminist text that is full
of powerful rhetoric. In this interesting essay, Wolf creates a hypothetical world where
Shakespeare has a sister who is equal to Shakespeare in genius, but whose legacy is radically
different. She is talented but she never gets to write a single word & dies. Wolf blames her
unexpressed genius on the patriarchal & chauvinistic male0dominated society of England of her
times.