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VPL - International Women's Day

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vpl_booksjustforyou21

Vancouver Public Library

Staff-created list

A list of fiction and non-fiction titles addressing the issues of women's rights from past to present.

By:

vpl_booksjustforyou21

Vancouver Public Library

20 items

20 items

The Better Mother

The Better Mother

by Lee, Jen Sookfong

Book - 2011

This excellent novel, chiefly set in Vancouver, focuses on Danny, a young boy growing up in Chinatown in 1958. At 14, a chance encounter with a burlesque ...Show more This excellent novel, chiefly set in Vancouver, focuses on Danny, a young boy growing up in Chinatown in 1958. At 14, a chance encounter with a burlesque dancer known as the Siamese Kitten turns into a lifelong obsession. As a young gay man, Danny aspires to become a great photographer but hasn’t yet found his themes. By the early 1980’s he has distanced himself from his emotionally troubled family and cannot seem to form any lasting relationships. When his friend Frank is diagnosed with AIDS, Danny finally finds the courage to become the person he was meant to be. If this book intrigues you, you might also enjoy Evelyn Lau's Runaway. Show less

This excellent novel, chiefly set in Vancouver, focuses on Danny, a young boy growing up in Chinatown in 1958. At 14, a chance encounter with a burlesque ...Show more This excellent novel, chiefly set in Vancouver, focuses on Danny, a young boy growing up in Chinatown in 1958. At 14, a chance encounter with a burlesque dancer known as the Siamese Kitten turns into a lifelong obsession. As a young gay man, Danny aspires to become a great photographer but hasn’t yet found his themes. By the early 1980’s he has distanced himself from his emotionally troubled family and cannot seem to form any lasting relationships. When his friend Frank is diagnosed with AIDS, Danny finally finds the courage to become the person he was meant to be. If this book intrigues you, you might also enjoy Evelyn Lau's Runaway. Show less

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Half the Sky

Half the Sky

Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

by Kristof, Nicholas D.

Book - 2009

An inspiring collection of stories centering on the oppression of women and their rights in the developing world, Half the Sky features tales of women liv...Show more An inspiring collection of stories centering on the oppression of women and their rights in the developing world, Half the Sky features tales of women living in Asia and Africa who manage to break free of their circumstances. Stories include a Cambodian teenage girl who was sold into the sex slave industry, but managed to escape and build her own successful business. Similar themes of female oppression and survival are portrayed throughout this volume. Show less

An inspiring collection of stories centering on the oppression of women and their rights in the developing world, Half the Sky features tales of women liv...Show more An inspiring collection of stories centering on the oppression of women and their rights in the developing world, Half the Sky features tales of women living in Asia and Africa who manage to break free of their circumstances. Stories include a Cambodian teenage girl who was sold into the sex slave industry, but managed to escape and build her own successful business. Similar themes of female oppression and survival are portrayed throughout this volume. Show less

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Bluestockings

Bluestockings

The Remarkable Story of the First Women to Fight for An Education

by Robinson, Jane

Book - 2009

An inspiring recount of the first moment in history when women were allowed to study in university and earn an undergraduate degree. Bluestockings covers...Show more An inspiring recount of the first moment in history when women were allowed to study in university and earn an undergraduate degree. Bluestockings covers the fight for women’s rights to education from 1869 to the 1930’s. What started as a school of five women in Girton, a small town near Cambridge, soon expanded after it was met with a full-blown uproar when the Cambridge Senate held a meeting thirty years later, to vote on whether women should be granted authorized rights to enter university. Show less

An inspiring recount of the first moment in history when women were allowed to study in university and earn an undergraduate degree. Bluestockings covers...Show more An inspiring recount of the first moment in history when women were allowed to study in university and earn an undergraduate degree. Bluestockings covers the fight for women’s rights to education from 1869 to the 1930’s. What started as a school of five women in Girton, a small town near Cambridge, soon expanded after it was met with a full-blown uproar when the Cambridge Senate held a meeting thirty years later, to vote on whether women should be granted authorized rights to enter university. Show less

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Everything Was Good-bye

Everything Was Good-bye

A Novel

by Basran, Gurjinder

Book - 2010

Immigrating from India to Canada, Meena is caught between the cultural ties of her home country and that of her new home. Raised by her hard-working wido...Show more Immigrating from India to Canada, Meena is caught between the cultural ties of her home country and that of her new home. Raised by her hard-working widowed mother, Meena is the youngest daughter among her five sisters and the one with the most exposure to the freedoms provided by her new country. So when her beloved Liam asks her to elope with him, Meena is forced to make a difficult decision whether to follow her culture’s customs or follow her heart. Show less

Immigrating from India to Canada, Meena is caught between the cultural ties of her home country and that of her new home. Raised by her hard-working wido...Show more Immigrating from India to Canada, Meena is caught between the cultural ties of her home country and that of her new home. Raised by her hard-working widowed mother, Meena is the youngest daughter among her five sisters and the one with the most exposure to the freedoms provided by her new country. So when her beloved Liam asks her to elope with him, Meena is forced to make a difficult decision whether to follow her culture’s customs or follow her heart. Show less

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Persepolis

Persepolis

[the Story of A Childhood]

by Satrapi, Marjane

Book - 2003

An intelligent and outspoken only child, Satrapi -- the daughter of radical Marxists and the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor -- bears witness t...Show more An intelligent and outspoken only child, Satrapi -- the daughter of radical Marxists and the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor -- bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. Wise, funny, and a heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Show less

An intelligent and outspoken only child, Satrapi -- the daughter of radical Marxists and the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor -- bears witness t...Show more An intelligent and outspoken only child, Satrapi -- the daughter of radical Marxists and the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor -- bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. Wise, funny, and a heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Show less

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The Dovekeepers

The Dovekeepers

A Novel

by Hoffman, Alice

Book - 2011

Follows four women‘s lives during the 70 CE Masada massacre. Yael lives in the shadow of her mother’s death. Revka, the village baker’s wife, witnessed ...Show more Follows four women‘s lives during the 70 CE Masada massacre. Yael lives in the shadow of her mother’s death. Revka, the village baker’s wife, witnessed her own daughter’s murder at the hands of Roman soldiers and is now solely responsible for her twin grandsons. Aziza is raised as fearless warrior, but finds love with another soldier. Shirah possesses powers associated with ancient magic and medicine. Show less

Follows four women‘s lives during the 70 CE Masada massacre. Yael lives in the shadow of her mother’s death. Revka, the village baker’s wife, witnessed ...Show more Follows four women‘s lives during the 70 CE Masada massacre. Yael lives in the shadow of her mother’s death. Revka, the village baker’s wife, witnessed her own daughter’s murder at the hands of Roman soldiers and is now solely responsible for her twin grandsons. Aziza is raised as fearless warrior, but finds love with another soldier. Shirah possesses powers associated with ancient magic and medicine. Show less

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Flat Broke With Children

Flat Broke With Children

Women in the Age of Welfare Reform

by Hays, Sharon

Book - 2003

An eye-opening account of the change in welfare policies in the U.S. since the Welfare Reform Act in 1996. Sharon Hays presents issues with the reform, m...Show more An eye-opening account of the change in welfare policies in the U.S. since the Welfare Reform Act in 1996. Sharon Hays presents issues with the reform, mainly for single, unmarried mothers on welfare. These women are left with little to no choice but to take the first job they find, and they are often those that offer low pay, poor schedules, and have low benefits and flexibility. Spending three years interacting with welfare mothers for her research, Hays digs deep into the heart of the welfare reform to uncover how it affects motherhood, families, and women’s work lives across the nation. Show less

An eye-opening account of the change in welfare policies in the U.S. since the Welfare Reform Act in 1996. Sharon Hays presents issues with the reform, m...Show more An eye-opening account of the change in welfare policies in the U.S. since the Welfare Reform Act in 1996. Sharon Hays presents issues with the reform, mainly for single, unmarried mothers on welfare. These women are left with little to no choice but to take the first job they find, and they are often those that offer low pay, poor schedules, and have low benefits and flexibility. Spending three years interacting with welfare mothers for her research, Hays digs deep into the heart of the welfare reform to uncover how it affects motherhood, families, and women’s work lives across the nation. Show less

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Delusions of Gender

Delusions of Gender

How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference

by Fine, Cordelia

Book - 2010

A riveting read on how our culture is largely responsible for gender identities and differences rather than the biological reasons long believed to make t...Show more A riveting read on how our culture is largely responsible for gender identities and differences rather than the biological reasons long believed to make the male and female brain different. This book examines how easily the brain can be malleable to societal influences and debunks long held beliefs on what is innate. Show less

A riveting read on how our culture is largely responsible for gender identities and differences rather than the biological reasons long believed to make t...Show more A riveting read on how our culture is largely responsible for gender identities and differences rather than the biological reasons long believed to make the male and female brain different. This book examines how easily the brain can be malleable to societal influences and debunks long held beliefs on what is innate. Show less

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The Lolita Effect

The Lolita Effect

The Media Sexualization of Young Girls and What We Can Do About It

by Durham, Meenakshi Gigi

Book - 2008

This book examines how pop culture sends out degrading and unrealistic standards of sex and sexuality, aimed towards young girls and as a result, promotes...Show more This book examines how pop culture sends out degrading and unrealistic standards of sex and sexuality, aimed towards young girls and as a result, promotes a culture of female objectification and raises a culture of young women who lack self-confidence about their worth. Dr. Gigi Durham provides useful suggestions to help young girls develop a healthy self-esteem and perception towards their own sexuality. Show less

This book examines how pop culture sends out degrading and unrealistic standards of sex and sexuality, aimed towards young girls and as a result, promotes...Show more This book examines how pop culture sends out degrading and unrealistic standards of sex and sexuality, aimed towards young girls and as a result, promotes a culture of female objectification and raises a culture of young women who lack self-confidence about their worth. Dr. Gigi Durham provides useful suggestions to help young girls develop a healthy self-esteem and perception towards their own sexuality. Show less

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Young, White, and Miserable

Young, White, and Miserable

Growing up Female in the Fifties

by Breines, Wini

Book - 1992

An intriguing study on what compelled the feminist movement in the 1960’s in light of the previous decade’s tranquil times. The author explores the contr...Show more An intriguing study on what compelled the feminist movement in the 1960’s in light of the previous decade’s tranquil times. The author explores the contradictory roles and messages delivered to young girls in the 1950’s that later fueled their desire to break free from the traditional expectations of women. Included is an excerpt on Anne Parsons, a celebrated poet who committed suicide and was argued to have been caught between society’s narrow expectations of women and her personal desires in life as an individual. Show less

An intriguing study on what compelled the feminist movement in the 1960’s in light of the previous decade’s tranquil times. The author explores the contr...Show more An intriguing study on what compelled the feminist movement in the 1960’s in light of the previous decade’s tranquil times. The author explores the contradictory roles and messages delivered to young girls in the 1950’s that later fueled their desire to break free from the traditional expectations of women. Included is an excerpt on Anne Parsons, a celebrated poet who committed suicide and was argued to have been caught between society’s narrow expectations of women and her personal desires in life as an individual. Show less

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The Woman Warrior

The Woman Warrior

China Men

by Kingston, Maxine Hong

Book - 2005

Maxine Hong Kingston shares with readers her experiences and struggles of growing up in California as a Chinese-American woman. Meshed with her story are...Show more Maxine Hong Kingston shares with readers her experiences and struggles of growing up in California as a Chinese-American woman. Meshed with her story are tales of Chinese history, myths, and beliefs that the author’s mother has passed down to her and an insightful account of what it is like to be raised in a bicultural world. Show less

Maxine Hong Kingston shares with readers her experiences and struggles of growing up in California as a Chinese-American woman. Meshed with her story are...Show more Maxine Hong Kingston shares with readers her experiences and struggles of growing up in California as a Chinese-American woman. Meshed with her story are tales of Chinese history, myths, and beliefs that the author’s mother has passed down to her and an insightful account of what it is like to be raised in a bicultural world. Show less

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The Second Sex

The Second Sex

by Beauvoir, Simone de

Book - 2010

Translated from the original French text, this new unabridged English version is as every bit as titillating as its predecessor. In this volume, Simone d...Show more Translated from the original French text, this new unabridged English version is as every bit as titillating as its predecessor. In this volume, Simone de Beauvoir takes us back to the beginning of time in regards to women in society and their prevalent subjugation to men. Regarded as a feminist bible, be sure to add this book to your reading list if you haven’t done so already. Show less

Translated from the original French text, this new unabridged English version is as every bit as titillating as its predecessor. In this volume, Simone d...Show more Translated from the original French text, this new unabridged English version is as every bit as titillating as its predecessor. In this volume, Simone de Beauvoir takes us back to the beginning of time in regards to women in society and their prevalent subjugation to men. Regarded as a feminist bible, be sure to add this book to your reading list if you haven’t done so already. Show less

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I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

by Ali, Nujood

Book - 2010

Nujood Ali was nine-years-old when her father married her off in an arranged marriage to a man more than three times her age. Nujood was brutally beaten ...Show more Nujood Ali was nine-years-old when her father married her off in an arranged marriage to a man more than three times her age. Nujood was brutally beaten and raped by her husband who promised not to touch her until she reached a sexually ready age. Rebelling against Yemen’s traditions, Nujood sought out and was granted a divorce, making her a key figure in the change towards marriage rights for women in Yemen today. Show less

Nujood Ali was nine-years-old when her father married her off in an arranged marriage to a man more than three times her age. Nujood was brutally beaten ...Show more Nujood Ali was nine-years-old when her father married her off in an arranged marriage to a man more than three times her age. Nujood was brutally beaten and raped by her husband who promised not to touch her until she reached a sexually ready age. Rebelling against Yemen’s traditions, Nujood sought out and was granted a divorce, making her a key figure in the change towards marriage rights for women in Yemen today. Show less

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Reading Lolita in Tehran

Reading Lolita in Tehran

A Memoir in Books

by Nafisi, Azar

Book - 2003

This is the memoir of female activist Azar Nafisi who risked her own life for women’s rights and rights to education during the Iranian revolution. Nafis...Show more This is the memoir of female activist Azar Nafisi who risked her own life for women’s rights and rights to education during the Iranian revolution. Nafisi held secret book club meetings in her living room for a group of dedicated female students to read banned Western literature. She refused to wear a veil once it was imposed and subsequently lost her job, but still managed to find a way to educate her students. As an English and Persian Literature professor at the University of Tehran, Nafisi provides brilliant theories between the concepts in Western literature and the tumultuous times Iran was facing. Show less

This is the memoir of female activist Azar Nafisi who risked her own life for women’s rights and rights to education during the Iranian revolution. Nafis...Show more This is the memoir of female activist Azar Nafisi who risked her own life for women’s rights and rights to education during the Iranian revolution. Nafisi held secret book club meetings in her living room for a group of dedicated female students to read banned Western literature. She refused to wear a veil once it was imposed and subsequently lost her job, but still managed to find a way to educate her students. As an English and Persian Literature professor at the University of Tehran, Nafisi provides brilliant theories between the concepts in Western literature and the tumultuous times Iran was facing. Show less

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When Everything Changed

When Everything Changed

The Amazing Journey of American Women, From 1960 to the Present

by Collins, Gail

Book - 2009

A historical recount of how women’s lives have changed from the 1960’s to the present times. Topics discussed include politics, fashion, economics, sex, families and of course, the work field. A historical recount of how women’s lives have changed from the 1960’s to the present times. Topics discussed include politics, fashion, economics, sex, families and of course, the work field. Show less

A historical recount of how women’s lives have changed from the 1960’s to the present times. Topics discussed include politics, fashion, economics, sex, families and of course, the work field. A historical recount of how women’s lives have changed from the 1960’s to the present times. Topics discussed include politics, fashion, economics, sex, families and of course, the work field. Show less

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A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

by Wollstonecraft, Mary

Book - 1992

Published in 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft presents the idea that women are not innately inferior to men, but rather women’s lack of knowledge is due to their...Show more Published in 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft presents the idea that women are not innately inferior to men, but rather women’s lack of knowledge is due to their lack of rights to education. She emphasizes the need for both sexes to be treated as rational beings for society to prosper and function successfully. Show less

Published in 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft presents the idea that women are not innately inferior to men, but rather women’s lack of knowledge is due to their...Show more Published in 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft presents the idea that women are not innately inferior to men, but rather women’s lack of knowledge is due to their lack of rights to education. She emphasizes the need for both sexes to be treated as rational beings for society to prosper and function successfully. Show less

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A Room of One's Own

A Room of One's Own

by Woolf, Virginia

Book - 1989

In her 1929 essay, Virginia Woolf provides provocative insight about fiction and a woman’s place in it. Woolf brings up a hypothetical situation that if ...Show more In her 1929 essay, Virginia Woolf provides provocative insight about fiction and a woman’s place in it. Woolf brings up a hypothetical situation that if Shakespeare had a sister of similar intelligence, her talents would be left unnoticed with no opportunities of creative development. Woolf claims that if a woman has her own income and a room with a lock, away from children and a husband to tend to, she will be able to create masterpieces of her own. Show less

In her 1929 essay, Virginia Woolf provides provocative insight about fiction and a woman’s place in it. Woolf brings up a hypothetical situation that if ...Show more In her 1929 essay, Virginia Woolf provides provocative insight about fiction and a woman’s place in it. Woolf brings up a hypothetical situation that if Shakespeare had a sister of similar intelligence, her talents would be left unnoticed with no opportunities of creative development. Woolf claims that if a woman has her own income and a room with a lock, away from children and a husband to tend to, she will be able to create masterpieces of her own. Show less

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She's Come Undone

She's Come Undone

by Lamb, Wally

Book - 1992

This novel gained tremendous popularity after it was chosen as an Oprah’s Book Club title and has been translated into eighteen languages. Dolores Price ...Show more This novel gained tremendous popularity after it was chosen as an Oprah’s Book Club title and has been translated into eighteen languages. Dolores Price is a victim of many of life’s tragedies, but ends up finding inner peace with herself. Raped as a teenager, Dolores quickly ate away her feelings to over 250 pounds. After a failed suicide attempt, she starts to stalk her ex-roommate’s long-distance boyfriend, Dante. Though they eventually marry, Dante is unfaithful and even urges her to have an abortion. Life is no kinder for Dolores by the end of the novel, but she learns to be grateful for what she does have. Show less

This novel gained tremendous popularity after it was chosen as an Oprah’s Book Club title and has been translated into eighteen languages. Dolores Price ...Show more This novel gained tremendous popularity after it was chosen as an Oprah’s Book Club title and has been translated into eighteen languages. Dolores Price is a victim of many of life’s tragedies, but ends up finding inner peace with herself. Raped as a teenager, Dolores quickly ate away her feelings to over 250 pounds. After a failed suicide attempt, she starts to stalk her ex-roommate’s long-distance boyfriend, Dante. Though they eventually marry, Dante is unfaithful and even urges her to have an abortion. Life is no kinder for Dolores by the end of the novel, but she learns to be grateful for what she does have. Show less

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The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

Book - 2006

Set in a future dystopian society where the population of the Republic of Gilead is heavily infertile, Offred is highly valued for her reproductive worth....Show more Set in a future dystopian society where the population of the Republic of Gilead is heavily infertile, Offred is highly valued for her reproductive worth. As a handmaid, it is her duty to have regular intercourse with the Commander to bear children for him. Offred gives us a flashback of her old life before the revolution – a life with her own husband and child, and a time before women’s rights were removed. This 1985 Governor General's Award and 1987 first Arthur C. Clarke Award winner is a great read for those seeking inspirational women’s fiction. Show less

Set in a future dystopian society where the population of the Republic of Gilead is heavily infertile, Offred is highly valued for her reproductive worth....Show more Set in a future dystopian society where the population of the Republic of Gilead is heavily infertile, Offred is highly valued for her reproductive worth. As a handmaid, it is her duty to have regular intercourse with the Commander to bear children for him. Offred gives us a flashback of her old life before the revolution – a life with her own husband and child, and a time before women’s rights were removed. This 1985 Governor General's Award and 1987 first Arthur C. Clarke Award winner is a great read for those seeking inspirational women’s fiction. Show less

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GENDER TROUBLE : FEMINISM AND THE SUBVERSION OF IDENTITY

GENDER TROUBLE : FEMINISM AND THE SUBVERSION OF IDENTITY

by Butler, Judith P.

Book - 2006

One of the most controversial books on feminist theory since 1990, Gender Trouble explores how gender is a reinforced habit and practice rather than a bio...Show more One of the most controversial books on feminist theory since 1990, Gender Trouble explores how gender is a reinforced habit and practice rather than a biological tendency. This book portrays a strong critique of gender in our current society and the need to foster change through performance. Show less

One of the most controversial books on feminist theory since 1990, Gender Trouble explores how gender is a reinforced habit and practice rather than a bio...Show more One of the most controversial books on feminist theory since 1990, Gender Trouble explores how gender is a reinforced habit and practice rather than a biological tendency. This book portrays a strong critique of gender in our current society and the need to foster change through performance. Show less

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