Women in Puerto Rico – Books

Please note: Not each of these titles is specifically focused on Hurricane Maria and its effect on women in Puerto Rico. Some are fiction, others nonfiction. The books included here are in English but many are published in Spanish as well. I hope to add more Spanish-language titles soon. As more monographs are published on women and Maria, I will continue to add to the list.

Briggs, Laura. (2002). Reproducing Empire: Race, Sex, Science, and U.S. Imperialism in Puerto Rico. University of California Press.
Reproduction and sexuality, women’s studies, politics. 304 pages.

Capetillo, Luisa. (2008). Absolute Equality: An Early Feminist Perspective. Arte Publico.
History, literature. 320 pages.

Capetillo, Luisa. (2011). A Nation Of Women: An Early Feminist Speaks Out. Arte Publico.
History, literature. 315 pages.

Castillo, Olivia. (2018). Song of the Boricua. Independently published.
Family, literature. 335 pages.

Córdova, Isabel M. (2017). Pushing in Silence: Modernizing Puerto Rico and the Medicalization of Childbirth. University of Texas Press.
Reproduction and childbirth, women’s studies. 248 pages.

Degenhardt, Jennifer. (2018). María María: A Story of a Storm. Puentes.
Juvenile. 88 pages.

Findlay, Eileen J. Suárez. (2000). Imposing Decency: The Politics of Sexuality and Race in Puerto Rico, 1870–1920. Duke University Press.
Sexuality, race, politics. 328 pages.

Garcia, Elizabeth. (Forthcoming; 2018). Healing Memories: Puerto Rican Women’s Literature in the United States. University of Pittsburgh Press.
Literature, women’s studies. 168 pages.

Klein, Naomi. (2018). The Battle for Paradise. Haymarket Books.
Politics. 96 pages.

Lopez, Iris. (2008). Matters of Choice: Puerto Rican Women’s Struggle for Reproductive Freedom. Rutgers University Press.
Reproduction and sterilization, anthropology, women’s studies. 208 pages.

Lopez, Marco; Rodriguez, Desiree; et al. (2018). Puerto Rico Strong: A Comics Anthology Supporting Puerto Rico Disaster. Lion Forge.
Graphic novel. 208 pages.

Matos-Rodriguez, Felix; Delgado, Linda. (1998). Puerto Rican Women’s History: New Perspectives. Routledge.
History. 240 pages.

Morales, Aurora Levins. (1998). Remedios: Stories of Earth and Iron from the History of Puertorriquenos. South End Press.
History. 244 pages.

Rodriguez, Ivelisse. (2018). Love War Stories. Feminist Press.
Short stories. 200 pages.

Roman, Sandra I. (2018). Staying Strong: Diary of a Hurricane Maria Survivor in Puerto Rico. CreateSpace.
Memoir, self-help. 118 pages.

Santiago, Esmeralda. (2006). When I Was Puerto Rican: A Memoir. Da Capo Press.
Memoir. 278 pages.

Santiago, Esmeralda. (2012). Almost a Woman: A Memoir. Da Capo Press.
Memoir. 336 pages.