Best Feminist

Sylvia Plaths 'Ariel' is perhaps the most famous collection of the confessional movement. Published posthumously, these poems are characterized by their raw intensity, striking imagery, and unflinchin...

Caryl Churchill is arguably the most innovative living playwright. Her work, including 'Top Girls' and 'Cloud 9,' constantly challenges the boundaries of dramatic form, utilizing non-linear narratives...

A direct sequel to *The Handmaids Tale*, published in 2019, *The Testaments* expands the Gilead universe through the perspectives of Aunt Lydia and Agnes Jemima. Atwood masterfully employs dual narrat...

Revolutionary Girl Utena is a landmark series that uses surrealism, symbolism, and theatrical staging to explore themes of gender, sexuality, and identity. It follows Utena Tenjou, a girl who enters a...

Agnès Vardas 'Cléo from 5 to 7' is a landmark of the French New Wave, capturing two hours in the life of a pop singer waiting for the results of a medical test. The film unfolds in near real-time, fol...

Perdita Weeks provides a stunning performance in this retelling of the Greek myth of Circe. Her voice is elegant, strong, and perfectly suited to the character's journey from a scorned daughter to a p...

Sylvia Plath is the definitive voice of the confessional movement. Her poetry is marked by its raw intensity, its unflinching exploration of mental illness, and its sharp, often brutal critique of gen...

Thelma & Louise is a landmark road movie that redefined the buddy-film genre. Following two friends who embark on a weekend trip that turns into a flight from the law, the film explores themes of fema...

Ali Wong has become a powerhouse in stand-up comedy, known for her unapologetic, raw, and hilarious takes on motherhood, marriage, and the female experience. Her specials, often filmed while heavily p...

Lorraine Hansberrys 'A Raisin in the Sun' is a landmark in American theater, being the first play by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. Her work is a powerful, nuanced exploration of race, clas...

Germfree Adolescents is a groundbreaking album that blends punk rock with new wave and feminist themes. Poly Styrene's unique vocals and the band's innovative use of saxophone create a distinctive sou...

Céline Sciammas French period drama is a breathtaking study of the female gaze and the fleeting nature of love. Set on an isolated island in 18th-century Brittany, the film follows a painter commissio...

Artemisia Gentileschi was one of the most accomplished painters of the Baroque period, known for her powerful depictions of strong women from myths and the Bible. Her work is characterized by the same...

Adrienne Richs 'The Dream of a Common Language' is a landmark work of feminist poetry. In this collection, Rich explores the complexities of female identity, relationships, and the power of language t...

Godless is a beautifully shot, revisionist Western set in a town populated almost entirely by women. When a notorious outlaw gang comes looking for a man hiding in the town, the women must defend thei...

Cassie, a medical school dropout living a double life, spends her nights feigning drunkenness to trap predatory men who think they can take advantage of her. When an opportunity arises to avenge her b...

Naomi Aldermans 'The Power' explores a world where teenage girls suddenly develop the ability to release electrical jolts from their fingers. This physical change shifts the balance of power globally,...

Billed as the first 'Iranian Vampire Western,' this stylish indie film is set in the desolate ghost town of Bad City. A lonely, skateboarding vampire stalks the streets, preying on men who disrespect...

Alanis Morissette's 'Jagged Little Pill,' released in 1995 (but heavily influenced by 70s sounds), became a cultural phenomenon, resonating with a generation of young women. Its raw and honest lyrics...

Audre Lorde was a fierce, visionary poet whose work remains a cornerstone of feminist and Black literature. Her poems are characterized by their raw honesty, political urgency, and deep commitment to...

Marion Zimmer Bradley's 'The Mists of Avalon' is a retelling of the Arthurian legend from the perspective of the women involved, exceeding 1000 pages. It explores themes of power, religion, and the cl...

While often categorized as speculative fiction, this novel is a cornerstone of literary fiction due to its profound exploration of power, gender, and language. Set in the totalitarian Republic of Gile...

Whitney Cummings is a sharp, cynical, and highly intelligent comedian who has made a name for herself by deconstructing the complexities of modern relationships and the female experience. Her writing...

Iliza Shlesinger is a high-energy performer who excels at dissecting the female experience in the modern world. In 'Elder Millennial,' she tackles the transition from being a 'young' person to an 'eld...