By Neeti Kaur Rank

Autobiographies offer you the unique ability to learn from the experiences of others, since it’s not possible to experience everything first-hand in a single lifetime. Reading about someone’s personal accounts through their memoirs not only gives you a peek into their struggles and achievements but also lets you feel like a part of their journey. As a part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, we’ve put together a list of the most illuminating and thought-provoking autobiographies written by women who have rejected gender norms and prejudices to create space to be themselves. Here are some of the most empowering accounts of women who have stood out, spoken up, leaned in, and pushed boundaries, all as expressed in their own words.

1.) ‘Dairy of a Young Girl’ by Anne Frank

Anne Frank’s memoir is a haunting retelling of her personal experience as a teenage Jew under Hitler’s rule. Her journal carries her thoughts as she hid from the authorities in a hideout in the Secret Annex, before being sent to Auschwitz in 1944. The last surviving member of the Frank family, her father Otto Frank, later published the enduring memory of his daughter. The book continues to be a significant work of academic literature in many countries throughout the world.

2.) ‘I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban’ by Malala Yousafzai

A chronicle of bravery and courage, ‘I Am Malala’ tells the story of a young Pakistani girl who fought for women’s right to education under the Taliban. She was shot at, but managed to survive. The book captures her journey from being a simple girl from a village to becoming a well-known international human rights activist and winning the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

3.) ‘The Weave of My Life: A Dalit Woman’s Memoirs’ by Urmila Pawar

Three generations of Mahar women are profiled in Urmila Pawar’s book titled ‘The Weaving Of My Life: A Dalit Woman’s Memoirs’. The autobiography draws attention towards the everyday problems and societal oppression that the members of the community have experienced based on their caste and gender.

4.) ‘My Story’ by Kamala Das

This autobiography by Kamala Das aka Madhavi Kutty, originally published as Ente Katha in Malayalam, sheds light on the lifestyle of upper-caste women in both pre-and post-independence India. First released in 1973 when Das was in her 40s, ‘My Story’ addresses themes such as sexuality, marriage, love, and spirituality.

5.) ‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama gives the readers a glimpse into her fascinating world. She details the experiences that have shaped her, from her early years on Chicago’s South Side; her years as an executive juggling the demands of motherhood and work; to her time at the most well-known address in the world. ‘Becoming’ is a deeply personal account of a woman of spirit and substance.