8 Books for #8M
Feminist Library: Essential Reading to Help You Explore Feminism.
In an ideal world, International Women’s Day wouldn’t exist. But our world—and Uruguay in particular—is far from ideal:
In Uruguay, a report of domestic violence is filed every 13 minutes.
In Uruguay, at least 30 women were murdered in 2019 in gender-based killings, or femicides.
In Uruguay, in 2018, women’s earnings were equivalent to having “given away” 85 days of work.
In Uruguay, women hold only 4% of management positions in large companies.
Clearly, we do not live in an ideal world; therefore, every March 8 should serve as a catalyst for discussions, talks, conversations, and concrete actions addressing all these issues. In this context, I’d like to share eight books that I find interesting—to help us ask questions, rethink preconceived ideas, and try, each from our own perspective, to make changes that will help us eventually reach that ideal world.
1- *The Second Sex* – Simone de Beauvoir
I’m not being very original with this choice. It’s a classic, and although it was written in 1949, it remains relevant today, especially for its historical analysis of how patriarchy was constructed and its close relationship with the emergence of private property and, later, capitalism. This historical analysis is essential for understanding many of the issues Simone de Beauvoir raised in 1949—issues that, unfortunately, remain unresolved even now, in 2020.
2- Who Made Adam Smith’s Dinner? - Katrine Marçal
This book presents a historical analysis of economic thought from a feminist perspective. To this day, no economic theory—from Smith through the Keynesians, Marxists, and neoliberals—has included household labor as part of the economy. It is work that consumes countless hours of men’s—and mostly women’s—labor, yet it is not measured, does not appear in statistics, is not counted in GDP… it does not exist. The Swedish author attempts to explain why this work is invisible to economic theory.
3- Feminist Economics - Mercedes D’Alessandro
Continuing with the topic of economics: why is a feminist approach to economics necessary? This book draws on several concepts from Katrine Marçal’s book, offering a more Latin American perspective and presenting extensive statistical evidence that illustrates why economics must incorporate a gender perspective. It addresses various issues such as the glass ceiling in the corporate world and academia, the wage gap, the low participation of women in politics, and it focuses on care policies, since, as the author argues, “breaking the glass ceiling at the expense of the exploitation of domestic workers does not advance our path toward equality.” Care policies should be a priority for governments, companies, labor unions, and, in general, for all of society, so that all women truly have the opportunity to work with the peace of mind that their family (because we’re not just talking about children) is receiving adequate care.
4- Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg is the current COO of Facebook, and in this book, she analyzes—in a highly engaging way—some of the reasons why women find it much harder to advance to positions of responsibility and leadership. The book is filled with examples, anecdotes, and advice, making it a very easy read. Although her perspective is heavily focused on the United States and the corporate world, many of the ideas and suggestions can be applied to other contexts. It also provides plenty of statistical data and a section with various notes and references for further reading.
5- The End of Love - Tamara Tenenbaum
Drawing on her own experiences and numerous anecdotes, the author addresses various aspects of our daily lives—such as the idealization of romantic love, motherhood, the demands imposed by the wellness industry, and polyamory, among others—and analyzes them in an effort to deconstruct many preconceptions and prejudices. With humor, but also with statistical rigor and numerous references, the book explores various themes with the aim of questioning the way we relate to one another.
6- King Kong Theory - Virginie Despentes
*King Kong Theory* is a book that takes a scathing look at various current issues: the decriminalization of abortion, prostitution, and pornography are just some of the topics addressed. I think it’s an interesting book for sparking discussion on these topics and engaging in debate based on the author’s opinions.
7- Poetic Works - Circe Maia
Circe Maia is a wonderful Uruguayan writer, and this book brings together a selection of her incredible work. With her candid and unadorned poetry, she explores topics as diverse as set theory, fractals, the Anacahuitas, desire, and Van Gogh. She is an essential figure in Uruguayan literature, who invites us to discover her work with these words:
“If your voice were to interrupt
and broke this very
line... Go ahead!
I was already expecting you. Come in.
Let’s go to the back. There are some fruit trees.
You’ll see. Come in."
8- On Plants and Animals - Ida Vitale
I don’t think she needs any introduction. Ida Vitale is another magnificent Uruguayan writer who has received well-deserved public recognition in recent months after winning the Cervantes Prize. *On Plants and Animals* is a collection of essays on nature, where spiders and hummingbirds, whales and geraniums come together in engaging prose imbued with a special ecological sensitivity.
Bonus Track
As a bonus, I’d like to highlight two additional books.
"Uruguayan Women Demand Their Political Rights," by Paulina Luisi. Paulina Luisi was the first Uruguayan woman to become a doctor and a feminist activist both nationally and internationally, representing Uruguay at the League of Nations (the predecessor to the UN). The book compiles the speeches from a feminist event held in 1929 at the University of the Republic, along with an appendix containing documents rich in information from that era. Through this book, we can learn about many of the concerns women faced in 1929 and become aware of the achievements made so far, as well as all the challenges that still lie ahead.
Another must-read is *Feminism for Beginners* by Nuria Varela. This book explores the different waves of feminism, beginning with the earliest works of the Renaissance, moving through feminism during the Enlightenment, and the suffrage movements. It’s an essential book for gaining a fairly comprehensive theoretical understanding of the feminist struggle, its achievements, and its challenges.
I hope you found these suggestions interesting! If you’d like to add any more, your ideas are more than welcome.
See you next time!