Sometimes, there’s nothing quite as empowering as curling up with one of your favourite fierce female authors. From Zadie Smith to Margaret Atwood, contemporary women writers continue to diversify bookshelves across the world, using their voices to heal wounds, support each other and challenge the status quo. So, whether you’re a cosy bedtime reader, a holiday bookworm or a read-around-the-clock kinda gal, these 9 badass women are sure to empower and inspire you with their words of wisdom.
1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
In 2012, Adichie got the whole nation talking about feminism with her TED talk, We Should All Be Feminists. And when you hear her speak, it’s easy to see why. Adichie is witty, eloquent and so undeniably fierce that you can’t help but listen. But she’s not just a badass public speaker. She’s also a bestselling author with novels including Purple Hibiscus, Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun. Her writing interweaves her Nigerian background with social and political issues such as race, immigration, war and religion.
2. Roxane Gay
Roxane Gay is a staple addition to any modern feminist bookshelf. A writer of both fiction and non-fiction, Gay’s works draw upon her own experiences as a bisexual Haitian-American woman and a self-proclaimed ‘bad feminist’. Her writing is honest, raw and deeply empathetic, touching upon intersectionality, sexuality, body image and identity.
3. Rebecca Solnit
If there’s one woman that will inspire you to make a change, it’s Rebecca Solnit. Author of twenty books including her bestselling essay collection Men Explain Things To Me, Solnit represents the voice of activism. Sharp, perceptive and insightful, she writes acutely on a number of subjects including feminism, the environment, art and politics.
4. Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith is one of those authors that you can enjoy on any day of the week. Best known for her eccentric characters and relatable tone of voice, Smith’s writing is like a hug from a friend. She was just 20 years old when she wrote her debut novel White Teeth, and now has a number of published works including On Beauty, Swing Time and her most recent essay collection, Feel Free. Exploring themes of race, immigration and identity, Smith’s writing will send you on a rollercoaster of laughter and tears. And don’t forget the warm fuzzy feeling that will stay with you for hours.
5. Ottessa Moshfegh
Moshfegh is relatively new on the literary scene, having made an appearance in 2015 with her debut novel, Eileen. Dark, shocking and laugh-out-loud hilarious, Moshfegh’s writing is not afraid to break the mould and push all kinds of boundaries. Her characters, often flawed and unlikeable, explore the uglier side of human nature. Since her debut, Moshfegh has established herself as one of the most unique contemporary women writers of the 21st century. Her other works include Homesick For Another World and her most recent novel, My Year of Rest And Relaxation.
6. Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur first rose to fame through Instagram and proceeded to take the literary world with a storm. In a series of short, confessional poems, Kaur deals with violence, abuse, rejection, misogyny and body image, exposing many of the issues that women are facing in today’s world. Despite the heaviness of her words, Kaur’s poetry is healing and hopeful. Oh, and she even does her own illustrations. Could this woman be any more talented?
7. Ali Smith
Award-winning novelist and short story writer, Ali Smith, is the queen of storytelling. She deals with everyday themes such as love and family, and is largely preoccupied with chance encounters, unlikely connections and the complexities of human relationships. Among her many works of fiction, her best-known books include How To Be Both and There But For The.
8. Margaret Atwood
No list of contemporary women writers would be complete without Margaret Atwood. Best known for her 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood is largely associated with feminist and dystopian themes. She often writes about female suffering as a result of corrupt societies and once told the New York Times: “my characters suffer because most of the women I talk to seem to have suffered.” Her other well-known works include The Blind Assassin, Alias Grace and Oryx and Crake.
9. Angela Carter
There’s no denying that Angela Carter was a woman who was way ahead of her time. She wrote over 20 books in her lifetime, including Nights At The Circus, The Magic Toyshop and The Bloody Chamber, and was largely preoccupied with giving her female characters a voice. Unafraid to break taboos and disrupt convention, her works are dominated by sex, violence and female desire.
Find more feminism articles here >
Written by Hannah Hussein
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
