Redefining Leading Ladies
Strong female protagonists who are changing the way we think about womanhood
A long history of old white dudes dominating the written word has also led to a long line of female characters that barely skim the surface of all that being a woman is. Often hysterical, faint, weak, dumb, in distress, a sex object, and most of all, secondary to the male protagonist’s true dilemmas, popular literature hasn’t historically offered an accurate reflection of who real women are.
Popular literature hasn’t historically offered an accurate reflection of who real women are.
Contemporary writings are changing the tide. A perceptive increase in female authors being published has enriched the literary world with a diverse universe that embraces a full range of womanhood, respecting and accepting all identities and conceptions of gender. We still have a ways to go, but we are grateful for novels like these that have broken the mold.
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Author Madeleine L’Engle received rejections from almost 30 publishers in the early 1960s because her book was too outlandish, hard to relate to, talked too much about “evil”, and featured a young female protagonist (Meg) in science fiction. Once it was published, though, it never stopped being printed. The upcoming movie release has captivated audiences once again with its diverse cast, which many say is the first time a young POC female actress has been seen on the big screen in a leading role of this magnitude.
Lumber Janes Vol. 8 by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson
The creators of this graphic novel series are the embodiment of “be the change you wish to see in the world.” This girl-centric comic series follows Mal, April, Ripley, Molly, and Jo one summer at scout camp where the encounter the strange and unusual. Having recently released the eighth volume, this all-ages, female-led and female-authored comic is a welcome change in a typically male dominated genre.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Ifemelu is the epitome of strong female protagonists. She travels from Nigeria to the United States for college and does extremely well in school. However, the person she fell in love with back at home, Obinze, is unable to attain a visa to be with her. As Ifemelu begins to explore her life as an immigrant and a black woman in the U.S., she must also face the pain of separation. In choosing herself over a relationship, she strengthens her identity and is able to reconnect with her lover on her own terms.
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow
Rachel, a 11 year-old biracial girl from Chicago, survives a tragic incident that takes the life of her immediate family members. She is forced to live with her strict African American grandmother in a place unfamiliar to her. Under the influence of her new family members and a new neighborhood, Rachel begins to categorize life by what is white and what is black, a separation she hadn’t considered before. Struggling with grief and the weight of race while navigating her place in society and school, Rachel slowly realizes her own identity and finds healing.
Black Girl Magic: A Poem by Mahogany L. Browne
In this brief and beautiful book adaptation of Browne’s spoken word poem, we are reminded that we are so much more than the stereotype placed upon us. No matter where the influence comes from, negative expectations can weigh heavily and change your path in life. Let this poem remind you that you ARE black girl magic, and you can be everything you hope to be.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
At just 24 years old, Tomi Adeyemi is Nigerian-American author who brings her studies in West African mythology to the forefront of a dynamic young adult book. The fierce debut novel is led by Zélie, a young women who is determined to avenge the death of her mother at the hand of the crown prince. The prince is relentless in pursuit of eliminating all magic in Orïsha, but it is the magic alive in Zélie that could save them all. Dark-skinned, clever and impulsive, she carries the weight of the world while still discovering her true self.
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Diary entries, photographs, illustrations, and more opened up real-life experiences that fueled this memoir turned Broadway musical. Bechdel, author of the long-running comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For, draws us all into the realizations of her own sexuality growing up while also living with (and eventually finding out about) her closeted gay father. Her unique experiences and beautiful illustrations reinvigorated the idea of memoir via graphic novel. Lending her own memories to build a real-to-life character breaks the mold of lesbian as a secondary character in cis-focused stories.
After Delores by Sarah Schulman
“Somehow you decide you’re gonna have a lesbian protagonist, even though you know it’s the kiss of death. And you’re like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ And you think ‘Well maybe sometime in the future, some young women will like it’, and it happened!” Author Sarah Schulman said it best when she celebrated the anniversary of this publication at Strand in February 2018, surrounded by fans and fellow authors influenced by her work. Published in 1988, After Delores follows a broken-hearted waitress after being dumped by Delores, and is heralded for depicting the lesbian culture of the Lower East Side in the 1980s.
Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride
Informative, heartbreaking, and empowering, Tomorrow Will Be Different is Sarah’s story of love and loss, a powerful entry into the LGBTQ community’s battle for equal rights and what it means to be openly transgender. As more people like Sarah share their story and path to finding them true selves, we are starting to see more genres representing trans people as major and influential characters. Meet Sarah in person on March 6th.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
A contemporary classic originally released in 1984, this collection of stories and poems take form with the point of view of Esperanza Cordero. Coming of age as a young Latina girl in Chicago, the book tells of what it is like growing up in a Chicano family in the city, and of Esperanza’s desires to escape to a bigger, better life. Critically acclaimed and multi-award winning, The House on Mango Street helped to pave the way for Latina women receive much deserved attention in literature.
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