Cailin Riley Books

It’s an interesting time to be a woman, y’all.

It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in feminist literature since the 1800’s. From a time when women felt they had to publish under pseudoyms to keep their real identity a secret to famous Disney stars titling books, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” we sure have come a loooonnng way.

1800’s

In 1811, Jane Austen published her first novel, “Sense and Sensibility” under the name, “By a Lady.” Followed by “Pride and Prejudice” in 1813, Austen’s books critique the British gentry and dependence of marriage for women to gain power or survive. She wrote spicy female leads with their own desires to choose their own fate and who frequently challenge males in positions of power. Similarly, Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” (1847) explores a young woman’s desire to live life on her own terms and features one of classic literature’s most moving scenes, where Jane berates Mr. Rochester for treating her as anything but a person with real feelings and desires.

1930’s

Although it didn’t gain popularity until later on, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston introduced a concept that might have been hard for people to latch onto: A woman discovering and reveling in her sexuality. The story follows Janie, a young Black woman who rallies against society’s expectations for a Black woman at the time.

1980’s

I’ll never forget the first time that I read “The Handmaid’s Tale” and experienced what I’ll always recall as my first sense of literary horror. Margaret Atwood explores a dystopian concept of women as vessels for service and breeding. The story is at once chilling and horrifying, but still contains a kernel of hope and defiance.

2010’s

Many authors start to explore mythic retellings with women at the center. One of my favorite novels from that time includes “Circe” by Madeline Miller. Often viewed in the classics as a threat to humanity, a sorcess or even a temptress, Miller recenters Circe as a woman with agency. She’s not the bad guy. Instead, she’s a complicated person who makes choices and doles out justice to men that she sees as lacking. We also see the rise of many popular female figures writing feminist oriented memoirs, including “Bossypants” by Tina Fey and “Dear Girls” by Ali Wong.

2020’s

Many authors across genres are continueing to explore feminism and challenge the idea of what being a feminist means. Books such as “Shame on You” by Melissa Petro explore the backlash of shame tactics that women in the “woke” twenty-first century face. As the idea and facets of feminism become mainstream, so too do challenges from those who share the values of traditional power dynamics and the patriarchy. In contrast, burnout from the pandemic and election stress have led some women to have a greater interest in returning to simpler times via the “tradwife” movement.

How do you think works of feminism will change in the coming years?