What does women’s empowerment look like to you? Is it providing growth opportunities for your colleagues or perhaps championing DEIA practices in traditionally male-dominated spaces?
Personally, I believe it’s about giving women the mic and allowing them to share their stories. There’s immense in vulnerability, and it’s a privilege to be able to unveil ourselves to others who are willing to listen. Our experiences build connection, reminding us that one person’s hardships become our hardships—and their wins our wins.
Considering CCWomen’s 2024 theme is Empower, Together, we thought it would be fitting to curate reads that do just that: empower women, not just on an individual level, but as a collective movement.
From powerful coming-of-age fiction to beautifully vulnerable memoirs, here are some recommendations to add to your list.
The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls by Mona Eltahawy
“What would the world look like if girls were taught they were volcanoes, whose eruptions were a thing of beauty, a power to behold and a force not to be trifled with? What if instead of breaking their wildness like a rancher tames a bronco, we taught girls the importance and power of being dangerous?”
As women, we’re often expected to be presentable and in control at all times. If we stray from the status quo, we’re seen as difficult to work with or overly emotional. What if these norms didn’t restrain us? What if we were allowed to be messy, imperfect, and unpolished, and still thrive? Mona Eltahawy likens societal expectations to the seven deadly sins, labeling them as “necessary” to our liberation.
Sharing stories from across the world—China, Nigeria, India, and more—she shines a light on how women of all backgrounds are striving to make a difference, fighting for bodily autonomy, safety, and other fundamental human rights.
No topic is taboo for Eltahawy, and she speaks her truth with a consistent anger. By doing so, she embodies one of the focal points of her book: a woman’s rage is not a hindrance or weakness but a wildfire, ready to burn down oppressive systems and create a new one from the ashes.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
“People thought that being one of a kind made you special. No, it just made you lonely. What was special was belonging with someone else.”
Brit Bennett tells a tale of Black twin sisters who undergo radically different experiences. While they grow up together in Mallard, Louisiana, their paths diverge as one of them escapes town and lives while passing as a White woman. She struggles with the idea of leaving behind her racial identity to be accepted by another community, as she feels like she’s lost a significant part of herself. Then, when they have their own daughters, their fates seemingly intertwine again.
The Vanishing Half is a riveting multigenerational illustration of how two women's choices create startlingly different futures with their unique set of hardships. It emphasizes the importance of familial bonds, love, and resilience in the face of injustice.
At the end of it all, Bennett begs the question: what is the cost of belonging, and do we want to jeopardize our authentic selves to achieve it?
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
“Do not become the ones who hurt you. Stay tender with your power. Never fight to injure, fight to uplift. Fight because you know that in this life, you deserve safety, joy, and freedom. Fight because it is your life. Not anyone else’s. I did it, I am here. Looking back, all the ones who doubted or hurt or nearly conquered me faded away, and I am the only one standing. So now, the time has come. I dust myself off, and go on.”
First identified as “Emily Doe,” Chanel Miller was yet another faceless catalyst for the #MeToo movement until she bravely made herself known. In sharing her story so publicly, she was able to control her narrative and became a fierce advocate.
Know My Name details her healing process as a sexual assault survivor while also shedding light on how victims are treated unfairly, and often even blamed for their perpetrators’ actions. When recounting her experiences, from the event itself to her courtroom hearings, Miller doesn’t hold herself back—actively encouraging the reader to sit in their anger and discomfort. It’s no secret that, with our existing legal system, society doesn’t give victims the dignity they deserve, especially if they’re women. The more we learn about it, the more we can’t ignore our calling to change it.
Miller gently but firmly urges us to make empowerment the purpose of our activism rather than pure vengeance. She celebrates her resilience and continues to operate with daring hope, believing that our inner convictions can be enough to shift the tide in our favor.
We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
“But the more empowered women in the workforce, the better. The more that women mentor women, the stronger our answer is to the old-boys’ network that we’ve been left out of. We can’t afford to leave any woman behind. We need every woman on the front lines lifting each other up . . . for the good of all of us and the women who come behind us.”
Another powerful memoir, We’re Going to Need More Wine shows us a special glimpse into Gabrielle Union’s life as a celebrated Black woman actress navigating the ups and downs of Hollywood.
Though we see her many successes now, Union didn’t get to the top of the mountain overnight. Grappling with racism, colorism, sexual violence, and infertility, she fought many battles both in and out of the public eye. Like Miller, she speaks her truth unapologetically, providing readers with an honest view of her hardships and how she overcame them.
She doesn’t stop there, though. As someone deeply passionate about empowering women, she uses her personal story to honor the women in our past and create a more equitable reality for those in the future. With all of her wisdom and wit, Union guides readers on an incredible journey through womanhood—and why empowerment should be at the core for us all.
Read with CCWomen!
At CCWomen, we’re always looking for ways to empower. From insightful webinars with absolute all-stars to jam-packed in-person events, we strive to deliver a memorable community experience every single time.
If you’re looking to expand your network, discuss issues prevalent to women in business, or talk about our top picks during our quarterly book club, we’d love to have you join us.
