10 Classic Banned & Challenged Books Written By Women

L
ooking for a way to observe Women’s History Month?  Well, look no further!

Literary Ladies Guide’s stated mission is:

To elevate the voices of women writers and to be inspired by those who came before us. Literary Ladies Guide honors the contributions of women to literature, literary history, and journalism.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Famously, the author was 18 years old when she wrote this classic. We’re probably all familiar with the premise… not to mention the monster created by a man obsessed with creating life from dead tissue. It’s been protested pretty much ever since its publication in 1818.

The Awakening by Kate Chopin. It’s the story of Edna Pontellier, who is searching for meaning outside the roles of wife and mother. Her search includes a need for independence, as well as fulfillment of her sexual desires. Needless to say, didn’t go over too well when it was published in 1899. And, it continues to be banned for the same reasons.

The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall. This book caused a furor in England when it was first published in 1928. It’s a semi-autobiographical novel about a young woman who is coming to terms with her lesbian identity. Copies of the first printing were seized, with accusations levied that it violated Britain’s Obscene Publications Act of 1857.

Gentleman’s Agreement by Laura Z. Hobson. A 1947 work that’s the story of a gentile American journalist who poses as a Jew in order to investigate antisemitism in American life. It was banned in a New York high school because “it makes light of extramarital relations.”[1]

Letty Fox: Her Luck by Christina Stead. When it first came out in 1947, Australia refused to import this book written by its native daughter. Because they had declared it “salacious” and “obscene.” Now, however, it’s viewed as a witty and forthright coming of age story set between the Great Depression and World War II.

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. It’s actually a short story, rather than a novel. When it first appeared in 1949, The Lottery was the most controversial story New Yorker magazine had ever published. With a number of people cancelling their subscriptions. And Jackson receiving a mountain of hate mail.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Published in 1960, this book contains a frank examination of pervasive racism. And, it’s been one of the most-banned books since the inception of The American Library Association’s yearly Banned Book list.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. A mix of fantasy and science fiction, it tells the story of a girl who travels through time and space in an effort to rescue her father from The Black Thing (also called the Darkness, or the shadow). One of the most frequent complaints levied at this 1962 novel is that it goes against the Christian worldview of good and evil.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. This beloved story is about a quirky girl who spies on her friends and neighbors, recording what she sees in a notebook. Like most at one time or another, she doesn’t always behave according to the rules. What are the objections? Quite simply, that Harriet sets a bad example for children.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. A classic memoir, this book contains a frank description of her rape as a child. As well as descriptions of the burgeoning sexuality of a girl coming into womanhood. Then there’s the work’s examination of racism. It should come as no surprise that this beloved writer has been one of the most banned authors in America.

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