25 Gifts for Fearless Feminists in 2016
November 14, 2016Attention Amazon Shoppers:
Don’t forget to set AAUW as your charity of choice on Amazon Smile. A portion of eligible purchases will be donated to AAUW — at no extra cost to you!
Can’t figure out what to get your favorite feminists this holiday season? Here’s a handy cheat sheet for everyone on your list, from toddlers to second-wavers. This year’s guide has been updated from our previous ones to make your gift-finding mission even easier. We’ve expanded our scope to include all ages, and every product is gender neutral, so don’t forget about the boys, parents, and grandparents on your list. And if you’re on a budget, don’t fret: Most of this year’s 25 picks are $25 or less!
Our 2016 guide includes some of last year’s most popular categories, plus a few new favorites:
- Defies Stereotypes
- Teaches Empathy
- Promotes Professional and Leadership Development
- Makes a Charitable Impact
- Encourages Self-Care — new!
- Honors Women’s History — new!
- Required Reading — new!
- Feminist Swag — new!
Shop by age group:
Zero–Three Four–Six Seven–Ten Tweens Teens College Students Graduate Students and Young Professionals Professionals and Parents 65+
Future Feminist Onesie
AAUW
Age Groups: Zero–Three
Categories: Feminist Swag, Makes a Charitable Impact
Baby feminist and proud of it! This shirt is perfect for the latest recruits to the movement. It’s pure cotton, so it’s soft next to baby’s skin. Available in three sizes from six to 18 months.
$10, ShopAAUW
The Most Magnificent Thing, written and illustrated by Ashley Spires
Kids Can Press
Photo Credit: Kids Can Press
Age Groups: Zero–Three, Four–Six
Categories: Required Reading, Defies Stereotypes, Teaches Empathy
The vivid imagery and clever writing in award-winning Spires’ The Most Magnificent Thing will help inspire the future STEMinists in your life to dream big, think outside the box, and not let setbacks stop them from making their own magnificent things.
$16.95 (hardcover), Amazon
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Annick Press
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Age Group: Four–Six
Categories: Required Reading, Defies Stereotypes
Heralded by the New York Times as one of the “best children’s books ever written,” this must-have classic puts a feminist twist on fairy tale tropes through the story of a resourceful princess and her useless prince.
$7.99 (board book), Amazon
Girl Is NOT a Four-Letter Word T-shirt
Girl Is Not a Four-Letter Word
Image Credit: Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word.
Age Groups: Four–Six, Seven–Ten
Categories: Feminist Swag, Defies Stereotypes
If you like the message on the front of the shirt, you’ll love what’s printed on the back: “Be a rebel. Take a risk. Have adventures. Regret nothing.” (Feeling a little gift envy? Don’t worry — they carry adult sizes, too! But note that the message on the back of the adult shirt is different.)

Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Disney-Hyperion
Age Group: Seven–Ten
Categories: Required Reading, Defies Stereotypes
Inspired by the historic 2016 election to support more women in politics? This story about a grade school girl who decides to be the first female president is a great introduction to America’s electoral system and applauds leadership skills for the future leaders in your life.
$16.99 (hardcover), Amazon
Hidden Figures: Young Readers’ Edition, by Margot Lee Shetterly
Harper Collins
Photo Credit: Harper Collins
Age Groups: Seven–Ten, Tweens
Categories: Required Reading, Honors Women’s History, Defies Stereotypes
Know someone who is fired up about the trailer for the new Hidden Figures movie? While you wait for the film’s release in January 2017, read the source material on these three African-American women whose brilliance and determination really were out of this world!
$16.99 (hardcover), Amazon (preorder)
Child of Light
Ubisoft
Photo Credit: Ubisoft
Age Groups: Seven–Ten, Tweens, Teens
Categories: Defies Stereotypes
It’s challenging to find empowering depictions of women and girls in video games, which is part of what makes Child of Light so special. The other part? The absolutely gorgeous visuals from this “playable poem” that follows the coming-of-age journey of Aurora, a “young girl struggling to save a lost kingdom and her ailing father.”
$14.99 (digital game code), Amazon
Life-Changing Leadership Conference: NCCWSL 2017
AAUW
Age Group: College Students
Categories: Promotes Professional and Leadership Development, Makes a Charitable Impact
How can college students redefine leadership? At AAUW’s National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), students make their future what they want through a transformative, three-day experience. Not in college? Don’t let the young leaders you know miss out on this amazing conference from May 31 to June 3, 2017. Give the gift of leadership today!
$425 (expires February 28, 2017), www.nccwsl.org (registration opens December 5, 2016)
You Go Girl! T-shirt
Woot!
Photo Credit: Woot!
Age Groups: Tweens, Teens, College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals
Categories: Defies Stereotypes, Feminist Swag
Haven’t you heard? Females are strong as hell. Flaunt your favorite on-screen heroines loud and proud with this fun illustrated tee.
$11–14, Woot
Feminist Notebooks
The School of Life
Photo Credit: The School of Life
Age Groups: Tweens, Teens, College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Honors Women’s History, Encourages Self-Care
Get inspired by a great feminist thinker (each of these three beautiful notebooks is dedicated to one woman), then add your own thoughts — journaling, to-do lists, or doodles for your feminist manifesto. Ships from the United Kingdom, so leave yourself enough time to order.
$20, The School of Life
Keep Calm and Fight the Patriarchy T-shirt
AAUW
Age Groups: Teens, College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals
Categories: Feminist Swag, Makes a Charitable Impact
We could all use a boost in 2016 encouraging us to keep fighting the patriarchy. The perfect shirt to show off your Younger Women’s Task Force pride (more on YWTF below) or give to your feminist squad.
$15, ShopAAUW
Barb Knows Best Tote Bag
HUMAN
Photo Credit: HUMAN
Age Groups: Teens, College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents.
Categories: Feminist Swag
We’re totes on board with this bag’s agenda. While you wait for season two of Stranger Things to turn your world upside down, take this bag everywhere you go — whether that’s your local farmers market or fighting the Demogorgon.
$29, HUMAN
Who Needs Gender Roles? Coffee Mug
HUMAN
Photo Credit: HUMAN
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents
Categories: Defies Stereotypes, Feminist Swag
This mug’s message is pretty hard to argue with, whether it’s holding your morning fix, awaiting your afternoon pick-me-up, or helping you through an all-nighter before a big exam.
$19, HUMAN
Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace, by Jessica Bennett
Harper Collins
Photo Credit: Harper Collins
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals
Categories: Required Reading, Promotes Professional and Leadership Development
Feminist Fight Club is as hilarious and insightful as it is infuriating and motivating. Bennett’s blend of personal stories with research, statistics, and advice is a must-read for any woman in (or about to enter) the workplace. Plus, tips for handling the “manterrupters” and “himitators” who could use a good calling out!
$24.99 (hardcover), Amazon
Meet a New Feminist Community with the Younger Women’s Task Force (YWTF)
AAUW
Age Group: Graduate Students and Young Professionals
Categories: Promotes Professional and Leadership Development, Makes a Charitable Impact
This holiday season, give the college grads in your life the gift of a safe space and inclusive community where they can explore their leadership path, gain new skills, and fight for social justice. Join AAUW’s Younger Women’s Task Force.
Boss Babes: A Coloring and Activity Book for Grown-Ups, by Michelle Volansky
Workman Publishing
Photo Credit: Workman Publishing
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals
Categories: Encourages Self-Care, Honors Women’s History
Over the last year, every kid’s favorite grade school hobby has become all the rage among grownups in their self-care routines. Boss Babes is a great way to unwind and learn something new about your favorite heroes.
$10.95 (paperback), Amazon
Ask Me about My Feminist Agenda T-shirt
Red Bubble
Photo Credit: Red Bubble
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Feminist Swag, Defies Stereotypes
Whether you #StandWithChelseaCain or just love smashing the patriarchy in style, this tee is a great fit for any feminist.
$24.80, Red Bubble
“Keep the Damned Women Out”: The Struggle for Coeducation, by Nancy Weiss Malkiel
Princeton University Press
Photo Credit: Princeton University Press
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Required Reading, Honors Women’s History
Remember the fight for coeducation firsthand? Want to learn more about the brave women whose legacy you’ve inherited? Either way, this definitive book on the subject is sure to uncover memories or fire up campus activists for the next great movement.
$35, Amazon
Equity
Sony Pictures Classics
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Classics
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Defies Stereotypes
A “bracing, witty, and suspenseful” thriller, Equity follows the women of Wall Street as they thrive on competition and ambition to stay equal in the game. Starring Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad) and costarring producers Alysia Reiner (Orange Is the New Black) and Sarah Megan Thomas, the film assembled a women-driven team, both on screen and behind the camera. What’s more, the film credits include an AAUW member: AAUW of New Jersey member Candy Straight teamed up with the producers to help raise money for the film.
$30.99 (Blu-Ray) or $25.99 (DVD), Amazon (Preorder. Available on December 13, 2016)
The Type, by Sarah Kay
Hachette Book Group
Photo Credit: Hachette Book Group
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Required Reading, Encourages Self-Care
Powerful spoken-word poet Sarah Kay’s latest single-poem volume is all about the barriers and biases that women face. It preaches empowerment and individualism in addressing the realities about womanhood and offers a great resource for self-reflection and inspiration.
$9 (hardcover), Amazon
Fridge Feminism Magnets
AAUW
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Feminist Swag
Turn your refrigerator into a feminist playground! Playing off popular fridge poetry sets, you can create your empowering sentiments with this pack of Fridge Feminism. The set contains 52 magnetic words that’ll make a great stocking stuffer and look great in dormitories and family kitchens alike.
$5, ShopAAUW
Florynce “Flo” Kennedy: The Life of a Black Feminist Radical, by Sherie M. Randolph
The University of North Carolina Press
Photo Credit: University of North Carolina Press
Age Groups: College Students, Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Required Reading, Honors Women’s History
This first biography of Flo Kennedy by 2005–06 AAUW American Fellow Sherie Randolph is a must-read for anyone interested in how today’s social justice, racial equality, and feminist movements can and should intersect. Want to dig deeper? Keep an eye out for AAUW’s online book discussion with Randolph in February!
$30 (hardcover), Amazon
AAUW Outlook Magazine Subscription
AAUW
Age Groups: Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Required Reading, Makes a Charitable Impact
Not only is our award-winning quarterly magazine a great resource for in-depth feminist news and resources, but a free AAUW membership comes with each subscription!
$29.50 for first-time subscribers, AAUW
Notorious RBG Apron
Zazzle
Photo Credit: Zazzle
Age Groups: Graduate Students and Young Professionals, Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Feminist Swag, Honors Women’s History
Here’s the perfect way to do justice to the chef whose culinary skills are as sharp as RBG’s blistering dissents. The apron comes in your choice of three colors, and it’s also available in children’s sizes for your sous-chef.
$22.30, Zazzle
AAUW Paisley Scarf
AAUW
Age Groups: Professionals, Parents, 65+
Categories: Feminist Swag, Makes a Charitable Impact
Calling all silk scarf enthusiasts! This custom 100 percent silk scarf, designed by AAUW’s award-winning art department, is a great gift to show off your flair — and your AAUW pride.
$35, ShopAAUW
Related
ShopAAUW’s Biggest Sale Ever
Stock up on AAUW gear for a great price.
What We’re Fighting For
AAUW’s work covers so many economic, social, and educational issues. What hits home for you?
How to Speak Up about Everyday Sexism
If you’ve ever wondered what to do about a troubling dinner conversation or Facebook post, we’ve got you covered.