She Shall Go Free

Suggested Reading for Social Justice Issues

Readings For Social Justice & Diversity: intense but comprehensive book covering every major aspect of social justice; it incorporates a broad range of theories and perspectives, and every section includes a “Personal Voices” section that is consistently fantastic.

Rules for Radicals: the original guide to radical social justice activism that teaches “the difference between being a realistic radical and being a rhetorical one.”

Disposable People: Kevin Bales is an incredible voice for freedom, and this book is one of the best introductions I know of to the major issues in human trafficking and modern day slavery. He offers an excellent overview of the issue using detailed, thoroughly researched case studies. This book is an intense read and it took me a long time to get through it, but I highly recommend it to anyone interesting in learning more about human trafficking and the realities of what the global economy looks like for those at the bottom rung of the ladder. Caution is recommended for survivors of sexual violence, as some of the content (primarily the chapter on Thailand) could be triggering.

The Slave Next Door: again, Kevin Bales is great. This book offers a solid breakdown of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the U.S. It is an eye-opener for any reader. Caution is recommended for survivors of sexual violence, as some of the content could be triggering.

The Road of Lost Innocence: This was the first book I read on human trafficking cover to cover. It is the gut wrenching memoir of Cambodian trafficking survivor-turned-activist, Somaly Mam. Highly, highly recommended—but please read with caution if you are a survivor of sexual violence. Make sure you are in a safe space before picking it up.

The Girls Who Went Away: This book rocked my world. It completely disillusioned me when it comes to the system of adoption in the U.S. I cried every single time I picked up this book. It is brilliantly researched and all of the stories are moving and presented in a respectful and sensitive manner. This book changed everything for me—it helped shape my identity as a feminist and solidified my desire to work for women’s health and women’s rights.

Nickel & Dimed: I am still reading this one, but I absolutely love it. Barbara Ehrenreich aims to help readers understand the structural violence committed against low-income working women (and men) and the realities of working in labor intensive, low-income jobs in this country. She is very open about challenging and owning up to her privilege and acknowledges that her experiences working these jobs for a few months cannot truly compare to the men and women who are trapped in the cycle of trying to live pay-check to pay-check and barely making it by (if at all) their whole lives.

The Heart & The Fist: This book made my soul sing, I swear. I read it while I was in Cambodia this summer, and it really helped me figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I absolutely love the structure of this book—the way the author constructs the story he is trying to tell is beautiful and wonderful in every way. I was SO inspired by this book, and I have recommended it to everyone I know.

War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning: Chris Hedges is great in so many ways. This book is a pretty quick read, but it makes a solid argument for how war functions in our society, the implications it has on morality, and it incorporates a nuanced gender perspective that I really appreciate.