“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it” (Morrison Web). American novelist, Toni Morrison’s words suggest that if an individual has a voice that needs to be heard, he or she should not try to find similar ideas to confirm with, but speak up for him/herself through writing. More importantly, anyone can write and should write. Unfortunately, countless women in history were not able to do that freely, but they have been influential nevertheless. Female authors are important in that they advocate gender equality and provide diverse perspectives.

Initially, female authors actively participating and contributing to the literature-writing world can effectively facilitate realizing gender equality. In detail, their eminent works are the strongest defense against those who question women’s abilities. According to Ian McCormick’s article, “Women’s Writing and Feminisms: an Introduction”, “The dominant role of patriarchy was generally evident until the close of the nineteenth century ... Ruling gender divisions disempowered women” (Mccormick 3). With that in mind, gender inequality and sexism have been major, perennial social issues that still exist today.

Women’s intellectual capabilities are very often being viewed as inferior to those of men, especially back in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, female writers like Mary Wollstonecraft, Virginia Woolf and Marianne Moore have been fighting against this fallacy seemingly forever along with women in other fields of work. Take American author, Kate Chopin for example, as a woman of the 1800s she proved to society that females can be skillful writers as well. Samantha Howell states in her article, “The Evolution of Female Writers: An Exploration of Their Issues and Concerns from the 19th Century to Today”, “women writers have gained more respect and acknowledgement since the 19th century” (Howell 1). But the ultimate goal is not accomplished yet. It is not enough for people to claim female authors are also competent and talented. True gender equality is reached when individuals are not categorized by their birth sex.

Furthermore, women writing literature provides diversity that enriches the literary world. First, they offer more perspectives and some may vary greatly from men’s standpoints. As Howell remarks, “by the 19th century, ... women began to take larger roles in society and project their voices through their writings” (1). Social issues that are not seen or realized are often exposed through women’s writing, especially when they are gender-related. Sadly, gender inequality used to be so severe that some female writers had to use male pseudonyms in order for their works to be taken seriously. However, the female points of view were still presented (Howell 8).

In addition, female authors tend to draw people’s attention towards women’s lives, their emotional world and how they perceive things through the emphasis on female characters. For instance, Dedi Rahman Dur states in the article, “An Analysis of the Feminist Characters in Kate Chopin’s ‘The Awakening’”, “Chopin often describes women’s conditions and social expectations towards them” (11). Her novel, The Awakening, focuses on the life of Edna, a young wife and mother. The book vividly presents her growth from a common, restricted woman of her time to an independent individual in a sense. It is claimed in the novel that “she was seeing with different eyes and making the acquaintance of new conditions in herself that colored and changed her environment” (Chopin XIV 9). Edna gradually becomes aware of freedom, the concept of “the self”, and her own passions and desires. Since Edna’s urges may be considered not morally correct, many would argue that Chopin didn’t depict women the way that best supports feminism and the image of a strong woman. Nonetheless, Chopin’s courage to speak up for herself and those just like her deserves respect and accolades.

Indeed, not everyone would agree with how these female authors view the world. But that is, in fact, why literature shines and enlightens people. A great amount of timeless works by remarkable women have broken stereotypes, opened up perspectives and triggered actions of change.