Poems about feminism celebrate the unity, support, and sisterhood that emerge from women’s shared experiences and aspirations. They inspire individuals of all genders to stand as allies, challenge injustice, and create a more equitable world.
Ultimately, these poems about feminism invite readers to embrace the principles of equality, respect, and the ongoing journey toward gender parity.
These beautiful poems celebrate women’s diversity, strength, and immense contributions, reminding us that feminism is a movement that benefits all of society.
Belle, as Mrs Beast, corrects the narrative of her story as well as other women’s stories in this masterful poem by Carol Ann Duffy.
This poem delves deep into themes of feminism and misogyny. Carol Ann Duffy highlights the inequality suffered by female characters in storytelling, emphasizing how their identities have been lost in order to prioritize the identities of male characters. The speaker does not adopt a philosophy of gender equality, but rather an extreme form of feminism. This results in the oppression of the Beast from 'Beauty and the Beast,' as the speaker emphasizes female power and seeks female dominance in a world characterized by the patriarchy.
These myths going round, these legends, fairytales,
‘Why did you come’ by Hilda Doolittle is about love, self-criticism, aging, and the human inability to control judgments and desires.
Hilda Doolittle was a passionate feminist, and much of this passion bled into her poetry. As in 'Why did you come,' Doolittle often touched on the themes of love from a more complex, feminine perspective. In this case, she questions and investigates the social implications of an older woman pursuing a romantic relationship with a younger man.
‘A Muse of Water’ by Carolyn Kizer is a unique poem that places women as a force of nature, like water, that men attempt to control, redirect, and oppress.
'A Muse of Water' is an excellent feminist poem, and it's widely regarded as one of the best American poems from the second wave of feminism in the 1960s. It delicately and intricately handles feminism, intertwining the subject with environmentalism. Ultimately, in this poem, Kizer demands recognition and respect from men, who have destroyed the natural roles of women and replaced them with artificial obligations that suppress them.
‘Snapshots of a Daughter-In-Law’ is a feminist poem of defiance and activism against the misogynistic constraints of patriarchal society. It is a beautiful, and often satirical, poetic exploration of the position women occupy within a male-dominated world.
In searching for a feminist poem, look to Adrienne Rich's 'Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law', as a beautiful, and often surreal exploration into the suffering women endure under the patriarchy, and a calling for activism, and for women to soar away from the restrictions that male-dominated society imposes upon them. Influenced by the contextual background of the 1960s second-wave feminism movement, the poem offers a feminist critique of male-dominated spheres of literature, art and philosophy, and adopts a subtle, yet fierce tone of irony to destabilise patriarchal restrictions, and rouse activism, sisterhood, and freedom.
Christina Rossetti’s ‘Goblin Market,’ narrates the fantastical tale of Laura and Lizzie, delving into sin, redemption, and sisterhood.
Though ending more conventionally, the poem subtly subverts the patriarchal Victorian norms, punishments, and religious ideas. It might not advocate for embracing sexual desire, yet it undoes the curse of the 'fallen woman' by saving Laura, suggesting the redemption or rehabilitation of prostitutes isolated in the Victorian era. Further, it adopts a fairy-tale-like fantasy genre but omits the male hero figure, showing Lizzie as a brave hero or female Christ who sacrifices and confronts the evil, saving Laura as the poem culminates in celebrating sisterhood sans any moral viewpoint, keeping Lizzie and Laura on the same pedestal virtuously. Moreover, the nuanced description of Laura sucking the antidote from Lizzie's body carries homoerotic and lesbian feminism undertones, implying a safe space for female sexuality.
‘A Triad’ by Christina Rossetti explores the loss of identity and frustrated fulfillment endured by women in their search for love.
This poem both espouses and brings up questions that would be considered feminist. For one, the poem questions the restrictive opportunities available for women during a time when social or financial security was only obtained through a marriage with a man. As a result, women were forced to live false lives, either accepting their diminutive, listless roles or risking their very lives (and that of any children they might have) to try and live on their own.
In “Take me anywhere, anywhere;” by Hilda Doolittle, the poet-speaker addresses a lover, expressing the way in which she takes refuge in their affection.
Coded deep within the poem are Hilda Doolittle's feminist opinions, which by modern standards, are a bit unconventional. While Doolittle believed in equal rights for women, she also believed that women were the mothers and the softer, more submissive half of any relationship. Her willingness to sacrifice herself to unite with her lover is evidence of this belief, and, thus, the poem offers a thought-provoking perspective on feminism.
In Olga Broumas’s ‘Calypso,’ the speaker conjures up a dreamy world, imagining sensual women to fulfill her sexual desires.
The poem's lesbian feminist stance is evident in its unapologetic celebration of lesbian sexuality and female solidarity. It creates a magical world where lesbianism is imbued with spirituality and otherworldliness, elevating it to a higher realm beyond societal norms. This marks a departure from the mainstream world's rejection of lesbianism, offering a space where women can freely express their desires and find companionship. The closing lines affirm the validity of lesbian relationships by emphasizing that their togetherness is rooted in their inherent sexuality.
‘To the Ladies’ by Lady Mary Chudleigh talks about how marriage rids the woman of her person and attaches her importance to the one she is married to.
Lady Mary Chudleigh was a feminist, and her poem, ‘To the Ladies’, expresses her stance clearly. She stands for what is right, and for a 1703 poem, it is a remarkable feat in the fight for women's rights. Feminism is its main topic. Towards the end of the poem, the speaker encourages women to break free and go for greatness. This is a very important contribution to literature about feminism.
This poem adopts a deeply pessimistic view of marriage as Duffy highlights the flaws of patriarchal society.
Highlighting the patriarchal systems which serve as the foundations for marriage, Duffy showcases the beliefs of many modern Feminists. Throughout the poem, the speaker satirises the idea that she should beg a man for marriage. The question is posed: what do men have to offer women? In the past, it was protection - but this in itself is an important Feminist issue. Duffy further relates 'Betrothal' to this ideology as she references the wedding vow "I obey", which was removed from brides' vows after the Suffragette movement.
‘Fra Freud’ is a poem about how Sigmund Freud’s wife counters one of his psychological theories with the use of humour and feminist philosophy.
Carol Ann Duffy's feminist sensibilities thrive in 'Frau Freud' as she rejects the oppression and belittling of women. Duffy praises the perfection of the female form as the speaker expresses her opinion on the ugliness of the phallus. This poem frames Sigmund Freud's theory of 'penis envy' as an outlandish falsity - the speaker flips the theory on its head as she details the link between phalluses and violence. Feminism is given centre stage as it is taken to the extreme - not calling for equality, but female superiority.
Ladies, for argument's sake, let us say
that I've seen my fair share of ding-a-ling, member and jock,
Plath’s ‘Mushrooms’ uses a creative metaphor of mushrooms to represent the struggle of marginalized sections, widely interpreted to be women.
Plath has often expressed the entrapment of gendered roles, erasing women's dreams, individuality, and identity. She, too, felt trapped amid the societal expectation of an ideal domesticated wife and mother, impacting her writing. Plath's expression of sexist exploitation, social norms, and domestic abuse, narrowing women's opportunities, made her a significant feminist writer, especially after the 1970s and 80s, when feminist critics reclaimed her. Thus, mushrooms represent women's invisibility, entrapment in sexist norms, and their unity and collective struggle, which indeed was growing with the second wave of feminism when the poem was written.
Tennyson’s ‘The Lady of Shalott’ narrates the tale of the cursed Lady entrapped in a tower on the island of Shalott, who meets a tragic end.
The poem engages with patriarchal rules and women's sexuality in Victorian society. The Lady's tragic death symbolizes the gruesome consequences of patriarchal oppression, where morality prohibits women's sexuality. Her escape from the tower is seen as an act of defiance and female empowerment, allowing her to come to terms with her sexuality. The poem reflects Victorian anxieties about women's sexuality—idealizing virginity while demonizing desire. The Lady's rebellion suggests women's bodies breaking free from societal constraints.
‘Lady Luncheon Club’ by Maya Angelou critiques societal superficiality, urging for meaningful engagement with urgent issues amidst casual gatherings.
Throughout this poem, Angelou highlights the importance of Feminism by demonstrating the ignorance of society. While these ladies gather to be educated, a man lectures them on females, claiming to understand "female rage" due to Biblical characters such as Eve and Delilah, who are often used to paint women in a poor light. In keeping with Angelou's deep passion for activism, she underlines the importance of women educating themselves on important societal matters, especially those which affect them, so they may challenge the erroneous perspectives of others.
‘The Munich Mannequins’ by Sylvia Plath examines the dehumanizing effects of unattainable beauty standards through the imagery of lifeless mannequins in Munich, exploring themes of alienation and objectification.
Plath’s critique of the societal expectations placed on women's appearances ties directly into feminist themes. She challenges the patriarchal norms that define women's value by their physical appearance, advocating for a broader and more realistic representation of women.
Our Poem Guides, PDFs, Study Tools, and Articles are created by a team of qualified poetry experts to provide an unparalleled in-depth look into poetry.
