Women's Week

• The Truth Will Piss You Off, But First It Will Set You Free- Gloria Steinem
  A collection of essays by one of the most influential figures of second-wave feminism, reflecting on activism, politics, and social change. The book explores how truth-telling can be both disruptive and liberating for women and marginalised communities.
• Bad Feminist- Roxane Gay
  A widely taught collection of essays that examines feminism through pop culture, politics, race, and personal experience. Gay’s work challenges perfectionism in feminism and embraces complexity.
• The Lion Women of Tehran- Marjan Kamali
  A novel exploring female friendship, resilience, and political upheaval in Iran. It centres women’s emotional lives against the backdrop of social change and migration.
• Her Body and Other Parties- Carmen Maria Machado
  A genre-bending short story collection that explores women’s bodies, desire, trauma, and power through speculative and horror-inflected storytelling.
• I Who Have Never Known Men- Jacqueline Harpman
  A dystopian novel about isolation, survival, and womanhood, often read as a philosophical exploration of gender and humanity.
• Financial Feminist- Tori Dunlap
  A contemporary guide addressing gendered inequalities in money, labour, and financial independence, encouraging women to build economic agency.
• We Should All Be Feminists- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  A short, accessible essay adapted from Adichie’s TED Talk, arguing for gender equality through personal narrative and cultural critique.
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings- Maya Angelou
  A seminal autobiography exploring racism, trauma, resilience, and womanhood, widely studied in literature and women’s studies.
• The Beauty Myth- Naomi Wolf
  An influential feminist text analysing how beauty standards are used to control and limit women’s power in society.
• Dear God, Dear Bones, Dear Yellow- Noor Hindi
  A poetry collection addressing identity, grief, diaspora, and womanhood through intimate and political verse.
• Sister Outsider- Audre Lorde
  A foundational feminist text combining essays and speeches on race, sexuality, feminism, and power.
• Hood Feminism- Mikki Kendall
  A critical examination of mainstream feminism’s blind spots, centring the experiences of women facing economic and social marginalisation.
• Trans- Juliet Jacques
  A memoir exploring gender transition, identity, and politics, offering insight into contemporary trans experience.
• Boys Aren’t Blue- George M. Johnson
  A memoir-manifesto exploring Black queer identity, masculinity, and self-acceptance.
• Against White Feminism- Rafia Zakaria
  A critique of Western-centric feminism that calls for more inclusive, global feminist frameworks.
• Stone Butch Blues- Leslie Feinberg
  A seminal novel exploring gender, class, labour, and lesbian/trans identity, often cited as foundational reading in queer and feminist literature.
• Girl, Woman, Other- Bernardine Evaristo
  A Booker Prize–winning novel centred on interconnected stories of predominantly Black British women, including queer and non-binary characters.
• Nevada- Imogen Binnie
  A raw, darkly humorous novel about a trans woman navigating identity, relationships, and activism.
• Blind Not Broken- Lucy Edwards
  A book exploring disability, resilience, and navigating the world as a blind person.
• Beautiful- Katie Piper
  An autobiography about surviving a life-changing attack and rebuilding identity, confidence, and purpose.
• Backflip: The Autobiography- Hannah Cockroft
  A memoir chronicling the journey to becoming a Paralympic champion, highlighting resilience, disability advocacy, and elite sport.
• On Being Included - Sara Ahmed
  An influential academic work examining institutional diversity work and systemic racism. Widely cited in higher education, feminist theory, and organisational studies.

Films

• Hidden Figures (2016) (USA)
  Where to Watch: Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video options
  True story of three Black female mathematicians at NASA who broke racial and gender barriers to help launch a US astronaut into orbit
• Erin Brockovich (2000) (USA)
  Where to Watch: Netflix
  A single mother without formal training takes on a huge corporation to win justice for a polluted community, showing tenacity and grit.
• Moxie (2021) (USA)
  Where to Watch: Netflix
  Teen Vivian starts a feminist zine at her high school to challenge sexism and empower girls to speak up.
• Suffragette (2015) (USA)
  Where to Watch: Prime Video, Apple TV
  Historical drama about women’s fight for the right to vote in the UK, highlighting collective struggle and activism
• Queen of Katwe (2016) (UK)
  Where to Watch: Prime Video
  Based on the true story of a Ugandan girl who becomes a chess champion against economic odds; celebrates perseverance and ambition.
• The Woman King (2022) (USA)
  Story of the Agojie, an all-female warrior unit in Dahomey, showcasing leadership, bravery, and sisterhood in battle.
• Kahaani (2012) (India)
  Where to Watch: Netflix
  Indian thriller following a pregnant woman alone in Kolkata who refuses to be intimidated while searching for her missing husband.
• Queen (2013) (India)
  Where to Watch: Netflix
  A woman embarks on her honeymoon alone after her wedding is called off, discovering her own strengths and independence.
• Raazi (2018) (India)
  Where to Watch: Prime Video
  Based on a true story of a young Indian woman recruited as a spy, showing courage, sacrifice, and intelligence in a male-dominated world.
• A Girl from Mogadishu (2019) (Ireland / Belgium)
  Where to Watch: Sky / Volta / Prime Video / Apple TV
  True-life story of Ifrah Ahmed overcoming trauma and fighting for the eradication of female genital mutilation; shows courage and activism in the face of violence.
• The Divine Order (2017) (Switzerland)
  Where to Watch: Prime Video
  Focuses on women’s struggle for the right to vote in Switzerland, highlighting grassroots activism and collective empowerment.
• Moolaadé (2004) (Senegal / France)
  A powerful African drama about a woman protecting girls from female genital mutilation and challenging oppressive traditions.
• Khartoum Offside (2019) (Sudan)
  Documentary about Sudanese women fighting cultural barriers to play football, symbolising resistance and perseverance.
• Tell It Like a Woman (2022) (Italy / USA)
  Where to Watch: Prime Video
  Anthology of global stories by women directors exploring diverse female experiences and voices.
• Bend It Like Beckham (2002) (UK)
  Where to Watch: Netflix / Prime Video options
  Young British-Indian woman challenges cultural expectations to pursue football
• Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) (India)
  Where to Watch: Netflix
  Based on the life of a woman who rises from exploitation to become a powerful advocate
• Wadjda (2012) (Saudi Arabia)
  Where to Watch: Prime Video
  First Saudi film directed by a woman about a girl who challenges norms to buy a bicycle; gentle but powerful stand against gender limitations.
• Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) (France)
  Explores love, autonomy, and desire between two women, praised for its female gaze and feminist storytelling.
• Mississippi Masala (USA)
  Where to Watch: Apple TV
  Explores themes of displacement, interracial love, and the cultural clashes within the Indian diaspora in the American South. It highlights the "double-marginalization" of women of color and defying traditional expectations of women
• Paris Is Burning (1990) (USA)
  Where to Watch: Prime Video
  A documentary exploring Black and Latinx queer ballroom culture, highlighting trans women and queer femmes as cultural innovators.

Documentaries & Series

• Pose (TV) (USA)
  Where to Watch: Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV
  Centres trans women of colour, highlighting community, care, creativity, and survival during the HIV/AIDS crisis.
• Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (USA)
  Where to Watch: Netflix
  Shows disabled activists, including women, as leaders of radical social change and collective liberation.
• Being Heumann (USA)
  Where to Watch: Prime Video; Apple TV (rent)
  Highlights women’s leadership within the disability rights movement and the fight for accessibility.
• Katie Piper’s Face to Face (UK)
  Where to Watch: Channel 4
  Creates space for women to discuss trauma, identity, and recovery with honesty and care.
• Simone Biles: Rising (USA)
  Where to Watch: Netflix
  Explores mental health, boundaries, and autonomy in elite sport through the lens of a woman redefining success.

Climate, Disability, Health & Sport

• Greta Thunberg
  A climate activist who has publicly shared her autism diagnosis and reframed it as a strength that enables clarity and focus. She has highlighted the importance of neurodivergent perspectives in addressing global crises and has helped destigmatise autism, particularly for young women. Her work demonstrates how disabled women can be influential leaders and agents of global change.
  Related works: I Am Greta (Documentary); Our House Is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis.
• Lucy Edwards
  Lucy Edwards is a blind content creator, presenter, and accessibility advocate. Through her digital platforms, she shares content on technology, fashion, travel, relationships, and daily life, challenging ableist assumptions about blindness. Her work promotes accessibility in media and public spaces while expanding representation of disabled women.
  Platforms: YouTube & Instagram (@lucyedwardsofficial)
  Book: Blind Not Broken.
• Katie Piper
  A burns survivor, author, and campaigner for people with visible differences and trauma survivors. Katie Piper has reshaped public conversations around beauty, disability, and recovery, advocating for empathy and representation. Her work highlights resilience and challenges narrow standards of worth.
  Book: Beautiful
  Documentary: Katie Piper’s Face to Face.
• Hannah Cockroft
  A multiple Paralympic gold-medal wheelchair racer and disability advocate. Hannah Cockroft has challenged stereotypes about disabled bodies and women in elite sport. She campaigns for equal recognition and opportunity for Paralympic athletes.
  Book: Backflip: The Autobiography.
• Simone Biles
  An Olympic gymnast who has spoken openly about ADHD and mental health. Simone Biles has played a major role in normalising mental health conversations in sport and society. Her decision to prioritise well-being over medals has reshaped expectations of women athletes.
  Documentary: Simone Biles: Rising.

Science, Medicine & Education

• Ada Lovelace
  A 19th-century mathematician widely regarded as the world’s first computer programmer. Ada Lovelace envisioned the potential of computing beyond calculation, laying foundations for modern computer science. She is a key figure in discussions about women in STEM.
• Fatima al-Fihri
  Founder of the world’s first university, Al-Qarawiyyin, in the 9th century. Her contribution highlights women’s historical leadership in education and knowledge production.
• Jane Wright
  An African-American oncologist who pioneered chemotherapy treatments and helped establish oncology as a medical discipline. Her work significantly improved cancer treatment and expanded opportunities for women in medicine.
• Parveen Kumar
  A Barts alumna and global health advocate, co-author of Kumar & Clark’s Clinical Medicine, one of the most widely used medical textbooks worldwide. She represents women’s leadership in medical education and healthcare.

Arts, Music & Cultural Production

• SOPHIE
  A pioneering trans woman producer whose experimental pop music reshaped contemporary sound. SOPHIE challenged norms around gender, identity, and authorship in music, influencing a generation of artists and producers.
• Arlo Parks
  A queer British singer-songwriter whose music explores mental health, intimacy, and emotional vulnerability. Her work offers representation through softness and honesty, particularly for young women and queer audiences.
• Tracy Chapman
  An iconic queer musician whose songs address social justice, love, and resistance. Her work remains influential across decades and continues to resonate in discussions of gender, race, and activism.

LGBTQ+ Rights & Feminist Thought

• Marsha P. Johnson
  A Black trans activist and key figure in the Stonewall uprising. Her work laid the foundations for modern LGBTQ+ liberation movements, with a focus on trans women, sex workers, and unhoused queer people.
• Sylvia Rivera
  A trans activist and co-founder of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries). She fought for the inclusion of trans women within feminist and gay rights movements.
• Audre Lorde
  A Black lesbian feminist writer whose work explores race, gender, sexuality, power, and difference. Her writing remains foundational in feminist, queer, and critical theory.
• Munroe Bergdorf
  A British trans activist, writer, and model influential in UK conversations around race, gender identity, and institutional feminism.

Global Leadership, Literature & Social Change

• Malala Yousafzai
  An education activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who advocates for girls’ education worldwide. Her work highlights the transformative power of education for women and communities.
• Nadiya Hussain
  Winner of The Great British Bake Off, who gained prominence against a backdrop of Islamophobia. She has expanded representation of Muslim women in British media and culture.
• Wangari Maathai
  Founder of the Green Belt Movement, which combined environmental conservation with women’s economic empowerment. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Murasaki Shikibu
  A Japanese writer who authored The Tale of Genji, widely regarded as the world’s first novel. Her work represents early literary innovation by women.
• Reshma Saujani
  Founder of Girls Who Code, expanding access to technology education for women and girls. Her work addresses gender gaps in STEM and workforce participation globally.
• Arundhati Roy
  A writer and public intellectual whose work explores power, justice, and women’s agency. Her essays and novels are widely studied in postcolonial and gender studies.
• Grace Wales Bonner
  A designer whose work bridges fashion, history, and cultural scholarship. She has expanded representation within luxury fashion and cultural institutions.
• Naomi Osaka
  A professional athlete who has advocated for mental health awareness, racial justice, and gender equality. She has reshaped expectations of athlete agency and care.
• Arlan Hamilton
  A venture capitalist who has expanded access to funding for women and underrepresented founders. Her work has influenced equity-focused entrepreneurship.
• Joy Buolamwini
  A computer scientist whose research revealed racial and gender bias in artificial intelligence systems. She has influenced ethical standards and policy discussions in technology.

“Scream so that one day a hundred years from now another sister will not have to dry her tears wondering where ni history she lost her voice.”

- Jasmin Kaur

"We need to be weapons of mass construction, weapons of mass love. It's not enough just to change the system. We need to change ourselves."

- Assata Shakur