In times of uncertainty it can be hard to know where to look for solace or comfort. Encouraged to stay at home not only to protect the vulnerable, but as an easy way to assist those working tirelessly on the front line, many of us can feel helpless. We must look for community – and in the bookish world, albeit …

The crazy cat lady is a stigma that is often forced upon women, particularly those who are unmarried. While the world of #Bookstagram may have looked to partially reclaim it (often boasting fun and creative photos of books accompanied by cats and cups of tea), the gendering of this creature is historic and stems back to The Suffragette movement. The …

Clothing has always looked to serve as a mode of self-expression. While this is widely acknowledged, what has failed to come to fruition is the wider significance of clothing, and the power it holds in contributing to our movements. Women, previously defined by the outfits they wore, have looked to reverse this process by using clothing choices as a means …

As feminist book lovers there is nothing quite so disturbing as the thought of precious works being censored, banned or even burnt. Yet, while we clutch our precious hardbacks in horror, we must recognise that so many of our much-loved classics have had to stubbornly overcome struggles in order to win the fight for freedom of speech. It seems odd …

Why – and how – feminists should be reading fairytales. Fairytales are undoubtedly an important part of the storytelling tradition. For many children, fairytales form part of their introduction to different forms of media. The stories we are told at an early age are often fairytales read from books, or are improvised tales that begin and end with the classic …

When we launched our Feminist Fairy Tales boxes, we had no idea how many conversations it would spark. We’ve seen them happening across our social media platforms, in our Members Facebook group, and in our emails with our team. One that particularly stuck with us was a conversation we had with subscriber, Laura, who told us she was currently writing …

Disney characters are considered hallmarks in a young person’s upbringing. This is to such an extent that 67% of polled Brits highlighted the importance of Disney princesses being good role models for children. However, Disney’s battling struggle with satisfying its more traditional fan base has led to a miserable lagging in terms of representing our ever-diverse society. The result: intersectional …

We’ve started the new year (and the new decade) with the age-old genre of the fairytale, retold for the modern era through the incredible stories in Little Book of Fairy Tales from Dancing Bear Publications, the book featured in our January box. The origin of the fairytale is much debated, in part because it finds its roots in the tradition …

Society is lagging behind literature. A cruel intolerance against outspoken women pushing for reform remains strong. Meghan’s race and identity has led to her rejection. While she may have jumped, it is society’s entrenched racism and the abuse she has received which amounts to a violent push. Their retirement is owed to the intrusive coverage and bullying of a British …

‘tis the season… of sisterhood! Here at Books That Matter we’re celebrating our December theme: the Season of Sisterhood! As we reach the end of the year it’s the perfect time to reflect and appreciate the sisterhood that surrounds us. Check out these 10 women-supporting-women organisations which champion that sisterhood with their work: Integrate UK is fighting to end FGM …