5 Feminine Empowerment Books Not to Miss
by Tabby Biddle
Tabby Biddle’s book recommendations for Feminine Empowerment.
I feel so ON FIRE with the 5 books that I am reading right now. Yes, I did say five. They all seemed to come at me over the past few weeks, and luckily it was holiday time so I could dive right in. I want to share them with you because I think they are incredible books to read if you are on a women’s empowerment journey. (And I know many of you are.) They all complement each other so well, and will give you a great boost and support in developing and utilizing your political voice for issues you care about most. Here they are:
1) Living History (Hillary Rodham Clinton)
2) Vagina: A New Biography (Naomi Wolf)
3) I am Malala (Malala Yousafzai)
4) The Politics of Women’s Spirituality (ed. Charlene Spretnak)
5) What Will It Take to Make a Woman President? (Marianne Schnall)
At this time, I feel it is so important for us as women to use our voice in the political arena. We are sorely underrepresented in positions of leadership in government, business, law, education, religion, medicine and the media. In case you hadn’t noticed (ha, ha), our world is being shaped by male values, male voices, male viewpoints, male leadership and the male experience. We are so out of balance between feminine leadership and masculine leadership in the shaping of our culture, that not only do we suffer as women and girls, we suffer as a human race.
Poverty. Disease. Violence. Rape. Murder. War. All of these have roots in the oppression and control of women.
We have become so used to our culture being shaped by male voices, male leadership and the male experience, that sometimes we are numb to the fact that this is RIDICULOUS. How can women be 51 percent of the population, and yet, in America, hold less than 5 percent of executive positions in the media (who shape our thoughts and conversations), represent less than 20 percent of Congress (who shape our laws), sit in less than 5 percent of the CEO positions of America’s largest companies (who determine what we consume in our hearts, minds, and bodies), and are forbidden to serve in leadership positions in some churches, synagogues, temples and mosques (who shape our spiritual beliefs and practices – which some would say, is the core of our well-being)?
Add to this, women in America still do not have equal rights with men under the law! (If you thought the Equal Rights Amendment was part of our Constitution, it’s NOT.)
My theme for 2014 is POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. I cannot stand on the sidelines anymore and wait for things to change. I am the change. You are the change. We are the change. (Women and Men TOGETHER.)
Women’s values, women’s viewpoint, women’s stories, women’s voices, and women’s leadership are the missing link to solving our world’s ills. I am sure of that. When we balance ourselves as a nation, and as a global civilization between our feminine nature and our masculine nature, we will find peace once again.
Through writing, speaking, and media appearances, I vow to step out more courageously with my voice to speak on issues that I care about deeply — the rights of women and girls (nationally and globally); passing the Equal Rights Amendment in our American Constitution; providing access to universal preschool education for children and their families; increasing the number of women in law enforcement, local, state and national governments; and maybe most importantly, publicly recognizing, honoring and giving voice to the “herstory” of pre-patriarchal culture and religion to re-orient our frame of reference for leadership and our understanding of woman and womanhood.
What does the political woman (or if you are a man reading this – the political man) in you want to say? What are the issues that you care about most deeply? And what is you THEME for 2014?
*By the way guys, this isn’t a diss on men or male leadership. It’s a forthright call and invitation to women to keep coming forward with their/your political voice. Let's hear it!
Tabby Biddle is a women's leadership expert working with women artists, visionaries, professionals and political activists to bring their wisdom forward in the world and advance women's leadership for socio-political change. She earned her Masters in Education from Bank Street College in New York City, and her B.A. in Political Science from Colby College in Maine. She resides in Santa Monica, CA with her husband, son, and beloved cat. Learn more at tabbybiddle.com.