Happy International Women’s Day!
This blog is run by two women and for us, it is very important to constantly remember and shine the light on the amazing women artists who have been writing, directing, acting, singing, creating incredibly works of storytelling. Particularly when those stories have to do with other women. Women’s history has not always been the kindest, in fact for most of history, women found themselves in positions of want in comparison to the other sex. Strides have been made in the last century that work to alter that position, but there is still so much to do. And one of those things that I will forever advocate for is the importance of telling women’s stories of all kinds.
The stories that tell about hurt, loss, hope, desire, passion, ambition, love, hate, anger, happiness, difference, acceptance, belonging are the stories that find connection in the women of today. Their differences, our differences as individuals gives us the gift of exposure and empathy if we are ready to connect. The connections that are built, not only in spite of, but because of difference creates a unity based on more than homogeneity.
This International Women’s Day, I want to celebrate and share some of my favourite stories about women that embrace their differences and the complexities that often define women’s experiences. I hope you will all take time to check out some of these stories and join me in celebrating complexities and difference this International Women’s Day!
Americanah by Chiminada Ngozie Adiche
I have spoken about Americanah multiple times before, even mentioning it on our Black History Month Reading List last year. My love for this book continues into this year, and today, specifically because of the way that it tackles the differences in women’s experiences. The protagonist struggles not to judge and make assumptions on the way other women act throughout the novel, so much so that it does become a distinct point of growth for the character that is one of the most intriguing plot points in the novel.
All About Love by bell hooks
The only non-fiction book on this list, it may be no surprise that it is by bell hooks. bell hooks is well known in the feminist communities as a professor, author, and social activist. Her book All About Love is perhaps less political that some of her others, but what is most beguiling about it is the complex exploration she undergoes to flesh out the different kinds of love. Autobiographical in many ways, the book delves into female connection with themselves and others and embracing that love.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
As a big science fiction fan myself, I loved this blend of science fiction with issues of race and gender. Following a young black author, Dana, who mysteriously travels between her own time and that of a pre-Civil War plantation in Maryland. This blend of history and modern day understanding of race and gender results in a beautiful novel that will have you flipping through late into the night. Kindred is a perfect example of the contribution Butler made to the science fiction genre.
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf is largely famous for her stream-of-consciousness style of writing and her unapologetic depiction of gender roles. Mrs. Dalloway is no different, following two characters during the interwar period, taking a look into aspects of sexuality, gender, and mental illness. The combination of these issues results in a deep understanding of the construction of self and mind based on the experiences one goes through.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
This autobiographical graphic novel traces the authors life beginning in Iran during the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and follows as she must leave the country and start anew in Europe when she is a teenager. This graphic novel is extremely poignant and very relevant to the contemporary refugee crisis, providing an insight into the experiences of those who have lived in/continue to live in war-torn countries.
