6 books on feminism to read and understand some women's movements that take place in Florianópolis

The city of Florianópolis is more than recognized for its natural beauty, especially when we talk about the various beaches that exist from the north to the south of the island. However, Floripa is not just that, especially for women who seek more space and equality in Brazil. The growth of the feminist movement in the region has placed the capital of Santa Catarina as a reference in this matter. With the aim of giving voice to the women of the island, the movement wants to end the salary differences and the lack of opportunities for the female gender.

The feminist movement is an agenda that is gaining more space every day, showing its transformations and winning the world. In March of this year, for example, the NSC portal covered a women's march in Florianópolis on Women's Day. However, feminism is not just an idea to be applied for what we understand or what we believe we know. It is important that every woman informs herself, discusses and rethinks the subject so that she can get to know herself better and find her own voice. With that in mind, we made a list of books that can serve as a source of inspiration for all women. There are some reading tips for those who want to enjoy Floripa's landscapes, whether on the beach or in the city, to deepen their knowledge about this very important movement.

1. Let's All Be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Considered one of the most important books of 2014 by the British newspaper The Telegraph, this work is a short essay by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian author who has written at least three other books on the feminist theme. The Fala Universities portal says that the content was adapted from a lecture by the author for TED Talks, which is a cycle of conferences aimed at disseminating ideas. Adichie tells her own experience as a black woman and points out the problems of machismo in Africa, as well as the Western stereotype about the African continent. Let's All Be Feminists it is a book that many women will identify with, as it explains the importance of men's participation in the feminist movement. Adichie points out that the fight for women's rights, and equality with men, is a challenge for everyone.

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2. Goddesses: The Mysteries of the Divine Feminine, by Joseph Campbell and Tonia Van Acker

The image of women is an important debate and has gained strength recently. The plastic artist and writer Rute Cardoso brought his own perspective on the topic in his exhibition Color in Motion. The idea is to show how divine female strength is, something that we can prove by looking at the importance of goddesses in ancient history. The presence and image of women in mythology is precisely the main topic of this book written by Joseph Campbell and Tonia Van Acker. The authors make a connection between the archetypes of the goddesses and our daily lives, dealing with emotional and psychological aspects with which every woman usually comes in contact. It is interesting to see how the figures of Artemis, Aphrodite and Athena respectively symbolize aspects such as independence, love and wisdom, and it is along these lines that the book takes place. Studying mythology is a good way to get to know yourself, since myths and the figure of gods and goddesses have the function of talking about human aspects and values ​​that are really important in life. It is no wonder that this is a topic deeply explored by the entertainment industry, with films like Rage of the Titans (2010) and Percy Jacksonas shows the list created by the Legion of Heroes portal. Another sector that explores the theme is online games. O Betway Online Casino website has slot machines themed, and among them is the Golden Goddess, which is inspired by the figure of the goddess Aphrodite and Greek mythology as a whole. Still in the universe of games, another reference is the success of the franchise God of War. The eight titles produced by Santa Monica Studio, may even have a man as the protagonist, but the focus of the story goes through some of the most important goddesses in history.

3. Women, Race and Class, by Angela Davis

Considered the most important work of Angela Davis, in this book the author addresses feminism in society, especially with regard to black women and capitalist society. Through a critical view, Davis doesn't just focus on the present, but draws a historical overview of the connections between capitalism, feminism, racism and slavery, which is the point from which she begins to weave the narrative. "Travelling" from the past to the present day, the book shows that, despite the abolition of slavery, there is still much to be done to implement a fairer social model, taking into account the situation of contemporary women and the dilemmas faced by the feminine gender.

The importance of reading Angela Davis these days is increasing. With more than 60 years in the struggle for women's rights, the American is one of the most important voices today. The feminist movement in the United States with speeches that explain the importance of connecting women, race and class in the same struggle. The author's books are equally important and serve to better understand Angela Davis' knowledge base.

4. Gender Problems: Feminism and Subversion of Identity, by Judith Butler

Judith Butler addresses in this work another very relevant topic for feminism: the question of identity. In addition to the social problems faced daily by women, the author also addresses the notion of identity, which, according to her, is essential for female freedom to be achieved. According to the author, it is important to think about the idea of ​​identity in the plural, and not in the singular, because it is through this concept that "what it means to be a woman" is given meaning. It is from this understanding that it becomes possible to subvert the identity of a woman.

To punctuate his vision, Butler leans on names like Michael Foucault to rethink feminist concepts. The theme is very current and has gained even more evidence this year, especially with the release of the film Who needs ID?. The production directed by Kátia Klock and Márcia Navai addresses the same theme, but with a bias of racial prejudice. A tip from us is to keep an eye on the promotional content of the Florianópolis Audiovisual Mercosul Film Festival, which usually features films with themes like this. To read Butler's book is to delve deeper into a topic that is gaining more and more discussion, as well as being fundamental to a better understanding of emancipated female thinking.

5. the second sex, by Simone de Beauvoir

This classic written by Simone de Beauvoir, one of the precursors of the feminist movement, was written decades ago and still has a unique importance in contemporary society. The reading is dense, but very relevant in terms of thinking about what it means to be a woman. The author analyzes the role of women in society and argues why she is seen as the second sex, the one that comes second for both historical and social reasons.

Simone de Beauvoir needs no introduction and is one of the most important authors in the history of literature. She is even more important when it comes to feminism, having written more than 10 books on the topic. However, if your desire is to delve into the writer's universe, it is also worth venturing into a French language course as a way of reading the original books and empirically understanding the author's choice of words to address these delicate and important issues. themes. on our website we have a section related to language courses which may be of great help in this regard.

6. Reason and sensibility, by Jane Austen

Finally, a fictional suggestion. Classic of English literature, this work by Jane Austen tells the story of two sisters who are very different from each other and who must deal with the obligation of marriage in a patriarchal society. While one is romantic and sentimental, the other is rational, which can be interpreted as a dichotomous aspect that permeates the lives of many women. The narrative presents the sisters' behavior in the face of situations and the way each one deals with their feelings.

Did you like the suggestions? These are just six indications, in a universe full of authors who approach the topic in a deep and efficient way. Reading is one of the healthiest habits, mainly to add more knowledge on such important topics, such as the feminist movement. Therefore, one of these books can be a good companion on your next visit to Lagoa da Conceição or a beach in Floripa.