Banned Books: How Censorship Perpetuates the Oppression of Women and Threatens Their Rights

In an era where information flows faster than ever, the act of banning books may seem anachronistic, an archaic censorship tactic from a bygone era, yet, across numerous societies, the banning and challenging of literature persist, especially works that center on women’s experiences, feminist perspectives, and gender justice. This persistent censorship is not merely an attack on ideas but a direct assault on the rights, voices, and agency of women, reinforcing systems of oppression and inequality.

A History of Silencing Women’s Voices:

The suppression of women’s voices through literature is deeply rooted in history, from the early days when women writers struggled to get published under their own names to contemporary bans of works addressing women’s autonomy, the pattern remains: female narratives have long been perceived as threats to the prevailing patriarchal order. Books like The Color Purple by Alice Walker and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood did not merely tell stories; they exposed societal flaws - racism, sexual violence, and the commodification of women’s bodies - that many preferred to ignore. As a result, these works faced bans and censorship in schools, libraries, and even entire states.

According to PEN America’s 2023 report on banned books, over 60% of the top 100 banned or challenged books featured female protagonists or were authored by women, this is not an incidental statistic but a clear indication of a targeted effort to suppress women’s perspectives, especially those that challenge traditional gender roles or address sexual and reproductive rights.

Why Are Women’s Stories So Threatening?

Women’s stories often challenge dominant narratives that uphold male authority and social control, literature that centers on female autonomy, sexual agency, or critiques of gender-based violence can be perceived as destabilizing to conservative social orders, banning such books serves to silence dissent and maintain a status quo where women’s experiences are minimized or rendered invisible.

Furthermore, books featuring LGBTQ+ themes or intersectional feminism - which highlight the compounded oppression faced by women of color, disabled women, or transgender women - are increasingly targeted, this intersectional censorship exacerbates existing inequalities and limits public understanding of the diverse realities women face.

The Impact on Education and Society:

Removing books that explore feminist themes or women’s struggles from schools and libraries has far-reaching consequences, education is foundational for social progress, yet when young people are denied access to literature that reflects their experiences or broadens their worldview, their intellectual and emotional development suffers.

Exposure to diverse narratives cultivates empathy, critical thinking, and a nuanced understanding of societal structures,  when such exposure is curtailed, it fosters ignorance and intolerance, conditions that pave the way for discrimination and social division.

Moreover, censorship sends a harmful message: women’s lives and issues are inappropriate for public discussion, this perpetuates a culture of silence around gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and equality, discouraging activism and policy reform.

Recent Trends and Escalating Threats:

The rise of conservative political movements in many countries has coincided with an alarming increase in book bans. In the U.S., for example, books addressing reproductive rights, sexual orientation, and systemic sexism are among the most frequently challenged. Titles like Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison have faced widespread bans. 

This censorship is not happening in isolation. It accompanies legislative efforts to restrict access to abortion, sex education, and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, together, these policies and cultural controls form a multi-pronged attack on women’s autonomy and equality.

Intersectionality: Who Suffers Most?

While all women are affected by censorship, those at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities - women of color, LGBTQ+ women, disabled women - face amplified barriers, their stories are even less likely to be accepted, making representation in literature scarce and contested.

This exclusion reinforces systemic inequities. Without visibility, these groups struggle to have their needs recognized in policy and society, perpetuating cycles of poverty, discrimination, and violence.

Resisting the Ban: Libraries, Educators, and Advocates:

The fight against book bans is an essential front in the broader struggle for gender justice, libraries and educators have been vital in resisting censorship, through programs like Banned Books Week and by creating inclusive reading lists, activist organizations, including the National Women’s Law Center, emphasize that protecting access to information is foundational for women’s rights.

Legal challenges and grassroots activism continue to push back against bans, asserting that literature is a vehicle for empowerment, identity affirmation, and social change.

The Power of Storytelling:

At its core, literature offers a space for reflection, resistance, and reimagination, stories by and about women allow readers to see their struggles and strengths mirrored, inspiring confidence and community. Censorship threatens this power, but it also highlights the transformative potential of storytelling.

Defending banned books is thus not only about protecting freedom of expression but about safeguarding women’s right to narrate their own lives, challenge injustice, and claim their place in society.

Further Reading and Resources:

PEN America: Banned Books Report 2023

American Library Association: Frequently Challenged Books

National Women’s Law Center: Access to Information and Women’s Rights

ACLU: Book Bans and Freedom of Expression

UN Women: Gender Equality and Access to Information

Banned in the USA: 2024’s Wave of Book Censorship and Its Impact on Women’s Rights”

“The Gendered Nature of Book Banning: How Patriarchy Shapes Censorship”

Freedom to Read, Freedom to Choose: Libraries and Women’s Voices in 2024”

“Intersectionality and Censorship: Marginalized Women in the Crosshairs”

“Book Bans and the Backlash Against Reproductive Rights”