By Shalra Azeem, Spring 2025 Intern

 

Women’s History Month is a time to honor women’s contributions to history, culture, and society. That is what makes the month of March the perfect time to find books to add to your reading list that center women authors, narratives, or experiences in both fiction and nonfiction. Women’s history is honored not only by recognizing prominent women in our history, but by becoming more informed on experiences and challenges that women have faced and continue to face in their own lives and in society. In this list, we recognize the diversity of women’s experiences by offering a range of topics featuring The New Press books written by and about women. Whether you are looking to see culture and society through a feminist lens, indulge in literary fiction with women protagonists, or become informed on the history and politics that affect women in this country, you will be sure to find a book to engage with this Women’s History Month. 

 

This first category of books acknowledges the feminist perspective and how it can change our way of considering ordinary topics of art, literature, and social and natural sciences. Books like Art on My Mind and Words of Fire use intersectional feminism to discuss racism, classism, and identity politics, among other things. Titles such as Experiments in Knowing and Gender on Planet Earth consider the gender inequality present in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, showing how gender biases seep into all realms of study.

 

 

The books in this category celebrate the lives and achievements of some of the most influential women in history. From figures like Devaki Jain, who revolutionized feminist economics in India, to the antiwar activist and actress Jane Fonda, below are the life stories of women who made great contributions to their societies.

 

 

 

 

Another way of engaging with women’s history is by understanding women’s personal lives and experiences. Pulled from The New Press’s list of literature in translation, below is a list of literary fiction written by women authors featuring female protagonists and their experiences. These authors have contributed to culture and society

through these diverse literary titles.

 

 

 

 

Ultimately, Women’s History Month is a time to reflect on the courage and resilience of women in history as they have worked to make the world a more equitable place, while acknowledging the work that still needs to be done. These titles by women authors explain the struggles that women experience internationally, as well as in this country, and what we can do about it. Whether you are seeking to learn more about how politics, the economy, or our justice system pertains to women, these titles will be sure to leave you more informed.