Book clubs offer the ideal environment for people to come together and discuss stories that move them. But book club discussions of feminist stories can be more enlightening, since these stories allow people to question and reinterpret the world around them with greater freedom. Feminist stories enable people to unlearn what society has programmed them to know.
If your book club is eager to explore feminist subjects reflectively and respectfully, this resource will enable you to facilitate deep, lively book club sessions that go beyond mere analysis.
1. Choose Books That Challenge and Inspire
The key to all excellent discussions is found in the initial book choices. In your examination of feminist ideas, strive to curate a selection of books that present complex viewpoints on women and justice. Do not restrict your options to Western feminists and academic texts. You can consider fiction novels, essays, biographies, and even science fiction that revolve around women and LGBTQ themes.
The classics one must consider include Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘The Second Sex’, ‘The Color Purple’ by Alice Walker, and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood; however, the current feminist bookshelf is much broader. Modern works such as ‘Hood Feminism’ by Mikki Kendall, ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ by Bernardine Evaristo, and ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie feature a wider range of stories and voices.
You might also include more non-traditional feminist works—graphic novels, poetry anthologies, and works by trans/non-binary writers, such as *Detransition, Baby* by Torrey Peters. These would add depth to the discussion by underscoring intersections with issues such as race and class.
TIP: Alternate between fiction and non-fiction readings. Fiction provides an emotional introduction to feminism, and non-fiction provides theoretical and historical foundations for those feelings.
2. Create an Inclusive Environment
Before starting the discussion, it’s essential that your book club feels like a safe environment where all viewpoints are encouraged. Feminist writings are certainly topics that might evoke passionate feelings and deeply ingrained opinions in each reader.
At the beginning of each group meeting, it must be reiterated that:
“Everybody's voice matters.”
Disagreement is fine; however, respect is essential.
The aim here is acquisition and development rather than “winning” an argument.
Engage the group in sharing experiences rather than presenting them as absolute claims. For instance, rather than making such claims as “This book proves that all men are the oppressors of women,” one might say, “This book has led me to consider how the dynamics of gender impact me personally.” The difference here is that one maintains an inquiring tone rather than an accusing one.
You can also use these groups to reach out to the members to share trigger warnings and sensitive content ahead of time. Some feminist groups are reading groups that take up heavy topics such as rape and oppression. Alerting them ahead of time enables them to prepare emotionally before delving deeper.
3. Begin with Guiding Questions
A few thoughtfully posed questions can lead the discussion in practical ways. Rather than focusing on plot or character analysis, questions can be posed that relate the story to broader concepts of feminism.
Here are some examples:
In what manner does this book break with traditional notions about gender?
What are the types of resistance and empowerment shown by the characters?
In what way do intersectional identities (race, class, sexuality) impact the feminist ideology presented within the book?
In what ways does the book depict feminism as empowerment, collectivity, or both?
Whose voices are centered—and whose are missing?
In what way might the dynamics of power in relationships, the workplace, and society mirror inequalities that exist in reality?
Do encourage people to share questions that occur to them, too. These might come from confusion, curiosity, or reaction—often, the liveliest conversations spring from a sense that “something doesn’t sit right.”
4. Incorporate Intersectionality in Every Discussion
One such area that has significantly evolved within feminism is intersectionality, coined by scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw. The key highlight here is that gender is not something that exists and functions on its own, but instead with other factors such as race, sex, class, and more.
One question to ask in your book club is: Whose feminism is this book speaking to?
A feminist perspective that is white and middle-class may not be inclusive of the experiences of women of color, LGBTQ women, and/or working-class women. These limitations can deepen your group's understanding and further underscore the need to consider more than one perspective on feminism.
For example:
When analyzing The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, consider the intersectionality of mental health and gender.
In Beloved by Toni Morrison, discuss the impact of slavery and motherhood.
When investigating Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay, consider the implications of pop culture and paradox in contemporary feminism.
Promoting this level of analysis helps the audience realize that feminism is not unified but an ongoing dialogue that keeps evolving.
5. Apply Feminist Ideas in Life
Great book club talks connect the book to the real world. Ask book club members how the themes from the book are realized in today’s world, or maybe even in each member’s personal world.
You could consider:
Role of media in perpetuation/resistance of gender stereotypes.
Inequalities in the workplace, emotional labor, and body politics.
The struggles to gain reproductive rights or trans rights.
The impact of the history of women’s movements on modern social justice movements.
When people are allowed to connect with texts on their own level, feminism ceases to be an ideology in textbooks and becomes integrated with the reader’s perspective. It is key to understanding the importance of discussing Feminist Literature.
You can take it even further by acting on the discussion. Consider the questions below:
Raising funds for women’s causes and LGBTQ+ groups.
Collaborating with local activists or writers to host guest lectures.
Organizing a thematic month about women in translation or women and feminisms globally.
6. Handling Disagreements with Caution
Feminism encompasses various ideologies; therefore, there are bound to be disagreements within it. One reader might look to the empowerment expressed through one character’s act of defiance, while another might be troubled by that same action.
When these instances occur, teach curiosity over defensiveness. Examples include these phrases:
“That’s an interesting point—can you tell me more?”
“I had not thought about that point of view before.”
“How might someone with a different background view this differently?”
In this way, there is assurance that conflict will serve as a springboard to greater understanding rather than becoming divisive. Feminist dialogue draws fully upon diversity if it is founded on empathy and appreciation.
7. Integrate Related Media and Background Information
To add depth to class discussions, consider supplementing your book readings with other texts that offer contextual information on history, culture, and more. These types:
Author talks / TED talks.
Scholarly articles and essays on the text.
The music that has helped to shape various women’s groups over
Listening to podcast shows about related topics.
For example, coupling readings of The Handmaid’s Tale with articles about Reproductive Justice adds greater relevance and meaning. Viewing the TED Talk titled "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Adichie, after completing her essay on feminism, shows how feminism has become more accessible.
These multimedia connections make the discussion lively and enable visual- or auditory-oriented learners to participate more fully.
8. Promote Reflection Following Each Session
At the end of each group meeting, consider encouraging attendees to reflect on what they learned and how their perspectives might be shifting. A reflective question, such as “What insight are you taking away from this?” will facilitate self-reflection.
Consider having each member contribute to a single journal between club meetings. As time passes, these musings will trace the evolution of the group in terms of intellect and feelings, and can spark blogs, Facebook chats, and other projects related to your book club’s group page.
9. Keep the Spirit of Feminism Alive in Your Book Club’s Culture
Talking about feminist literature needs to be extended beyond book talks. It has to be incorporated into your book club culture and values:
Facilitation roles should be rotated to ensure equity.
Support independent bookstores and feminist publishers.
Each month, ‘Feature’ features works from marginalized voices. Promote mentorship and leadership development among the members. Through living out the values of inclusion, empathy, and justice in your book club, it becomes more than just a book club; it becomes a microcosm of feminism. Talking about feminism in your book club isn’t just about dissecting characters and storylines; it’s about changing the way you and your book club members perceive the world. Feminist novels teach us to listen actively, question more, and imagine other possibilities beyond the status quo. But with an open mind, an intersectional perspective, and sensitivity, these talks can be the spark that sets personal and collective transformation in motion. In either case, that is, whether you are analyzing your way through the dystopia that is your story or finding inspiration in the poetry of resistance, remember this: Feminism is more than one story; it’s a living and breathing dialogue that your book club can continue.