At Patreon, we believe in amplifying diverse voices and experiences—both within our creator community and our team. This collection of curated media was contributed by Patreon employees, including (but not limited to) members of the following employee resource groups (ERGs):
- Intersections – Patreon’s ERG for women and gender minorities
- Agenda – Patreon’s ERG for members of the LGBTQ+ community
- Genuine – Patreon’s ERG for genders underrepresented in engineering
These recommendations celebrate the resilience, creativity, and unique perspectives of underrepresented artists, offering insight, empowerment, and inspiration for anyone navigating a creative career.
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Books, articles, and essays that inform, challenge, and inspire.
- Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. “A collection of personal essays that explores the complexities of modern-day feminism and the notion that there are right and wrong ways to be a feminist.”
- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. "This book gave me permission to just go make stuff without overthinking it. It’s like a pep talk for creatives."
- The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang. “Esme establishes a sense of self, a path of creation, and a love of culture in this book describing her experiences with stigmatized diagnoses.”
- The Dead Moms Club: A Memoir about Death, Grief, and Surviving the Mother of All Losses by Kate Spencer. “Someone told me about this book when my mom was in the final stages of her cancer battle. I haven’t felt ready to crack it open just yet, but it’s on the shelf waiting for me when I’m ready.”
- Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters. "I’ve never read anything like this before. It’s funny, messy, and painfully real—trans identity, motherhood, relationships, all wrapped up in one novel."
- Golem Girl by Riva Lehrer. "This book is stunning. Riva Lehrer’s art, disability, and personal history come together in a way that makes you rethink everything about bodies and identity."
- Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot. “This memoir is raw, poetic, and unforgettable. Terese Marie Mailhot writes about trauma, identity, and love in a way that stays with you long after you finish."
- Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie. "I devoured this book over one long plane ride. It’s a modern retelling of Antigone, following a British Muslim family torn apart by politics, loyalty, and love."
- How Women Made Music edited by Alison Fensterstock. “I haven't read this yet, but it's on my list, and it sounds amazing. Written by longtime NPR contributors from the Turning the Tables series—created by Ann Powers (the GOAT!), who also wrote the Introduction—the book builds on the series, which brought women in music together for candid conversations.”
- Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez. "Once you read this, you can’t unsee how the world is built for men—from the size of smartphones to office temperatures. Eye-opening and infuriating in the best way."
- Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. "This book is a joyride. It’s funny, messy, and full of queer, Latinx energy—perfect if you love coming-of-age stories."
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. "I couldn’t put down this zany, empowering novel that followed a young woman navigating unexpected motherhood, financial struggles, and internet fame."
- Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong. "A powerful collection of essays that delve into the Asian American experience, exploring themes of identity, culture, and the complexities of racial consciousness."
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle. ”Unveils many of the ways that women make ourselves small to appease society and inspires readers to live as big as we are.”
- Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. "If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your creative instincts, this book will remind you that your wild, powerful self is still in there.”
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Films, series, and videos that explore identity, creativity and resilience.
- 20 Feet from Stardom documentary directed by Morgan Neville. "A moving look at the unsung women backup singers behind some of the biggest hits in music history, fighting for the recognition they deserve.”
- Broad City, TV series created by Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson. "This show makes me laugh every time. It’s a celebration of weirdness, female friendship, and figuring out life in your twenties."
- Heartstopper, TV series by Alice Oseman. "A feel good show that talks about the joys and struggles of teenage love in the Queer community.”
- Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé documentary directed by Beyoncé. "A masterclass in artistic vision, work ethic, and creative control, following Beyoncé as she redefines what a music festival performance can be."
- I May Destroy You, limited TV series created by Michaela Coel. "This series is raw, fearless, and unlike anything else on TV. Michaela Coel takes a deeply personal look at trauma, consent, and self-discovery in a way that is both heartbreaking and empowering."
- Julie & Julia film directed by Nora Ephron. "A delightful and deeply inspiring film about creativity, persistence, and the joy of following your passion—whether it's cooking or writing."
- Maid, a limited series created by Molly Smith Metzler. "A powerful portrayal of domestic violence and the struggles of a mother trying to break the cycle of violence."
- Miss Americana documentary directed by Lana Wilson. "A raw and personal look at Taylor Swift finding her voice—not just as an artist, but as a woman navigating the pressures of fame and self-expression.”
- Miss Representation, a documentary by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. "An eye-opening documentary on how women in US politics are portrayed by the media and their struggles by being in the public eye.”
- Pose, TV series by Ryan Murphy. "A must-watch show about the trans community, the AIDS crisis and ball culture in the late 80s, early 90s.”
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire film directed by Céline Sciamma. "A breathtakingly beautiful film about desire, artistic creation, and the unspoken bonds between women."
- Real Women Have Curves film directed by Patricia Cardoso. "I saw this as a teen, and it was the first time I felt seen. It’s about body image, family expectations, and breaking free in your own way."
- She is Beautiful When She is Angry, a documentary directed by Mary Dore. "A fantastic portrait of how the feminist movement started gaining force in 1965, with real footage of the women who opened the door to the women's rights movement.”
- Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants film directed by Ken Kwapis. "This might sound silly, but this film (and the book it was based on) celebrating sisterhood & learning to embrace change came out when I needed it most. I'll still watch it anytime it's on.”
- The Power of Vulnerability TED Talk by Brené Brown. "Brené makes vulnerability feel like a superpower rather than a weakness—something every creative person needs to hear.”
- The Urgency of Intersectionality TED Talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw. "A must-watch for understanding how overlapping inequalities shape people’s experiences. It changed how I think about activism and advocacy.”
- Unorthodox limited series directed by Maria Schrader. "Inspired by Deborah Feldman’s memoir, this drama follows a young woman leaving an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community to pursue a new life.”
- Wadjda film directed by Haifaa al-Mansour. "The first feature film directed by a Saudi woman, and it’s phenomenal. A young girl fighting for independence through something as simple as a bicycle—it’s a quiet revolution."
- We Should All Be Feminists TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. "This talk unpacks feminism and gender bias in an accessible and powerful way—Beyoncé even sampled it in her song Flawless!”
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Podcasts and music that uplift and amplify diverse creative voices.
- All My Relations podcast hosted by Matika Wilbur and Adrienne Keene. "Every episode is eye-opening. If you want to understand Indigenous identity, history, and community, this is the podcast to start with."
- Anything for Selena podcast hosted by Maria Garcia. "Selena is the starting point, but this podcast is about so much more—Latinx identity, belonging, and what it means to be seen."
- CTRL album by SZA. "An emotional and raw exploration of self-worth, relationships, and independence from one of the most unique voices in modern R&B. All these years later, it’s still cited as ‘the soundtrack of young black womanhood.’"
- Disability Visibility podcast hosted by Alice Wong. "Alice Wong is a powerhouse. This podcast amplifies disabled voices in a way that’s engaging, informative, and deeply necessary."
- Dolly Parton’s America podcast hosted by Jad Abumrad. "A fascinating deep dive into how Dolly Parton built an empire on authenticity, storytelling, and music that transcends gender and politics."
- Fast Car, song by Tracy Chapman. "A song about hope and struggle that still hits just as hard decades later. I love that it made a powerful resurgence on the country charts, introducing Tracy Chapman to a new generation and making history at the CMAs.”
- Q.U.E.E.N., song by Janelle Monáe (feat. Erykah Badu). "If you’ve ever needed a song to strut down the street like you own the world, this is it. Funky, rebellious, and unapologetically weird."
- Rebel Girl, song by Bikini Kill. "This song is the Riot Grrrl movement. Loud, fast, feminist, and still one of the best punk anthems ever made."
- Rebel Spirit podcast by Akilah Hughes. "It’s a masterclass in using humor, storytelling, and activism to challenge outdated norms. Akilah Hughes takes on the fight to change her high school’s Confederate mascot—not with despair, but with wit, optimism, and a quest for something better (and way more fun).”
- Spanx: Sara Blakely episode of How I Built This Podcast with Guy Raz. "Sara built a billion-dollar brand with no business background, just creativity and determination."
- The Highwomen album by the Highwomen (Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires, Natalie Hemby). "A supergroup of powerhouse women in country music reclaiming space in a historically male-dominated genre."
- The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album by Lauryn Hill. "Lauryn’s lyrics about self-worth, love, and staying true to yourself still feel revolutionary all these years later — 'Deep in my heart, the answer, it was in me / And I made up my mind to define my own destiny.'"
- the record album by boygenius (Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker). "Three of the best singer-songwriters alive team up to break your heart, make you feel seen, and give you harmonies that will actually knock the wind out of you."
- What About Sexual Harassment on Wall Street? interview with Sallie Krawcheck on NPR. "Sallie Krawcheck, co-founder of Ellevest, shares firsthand insights on gender bias in finance, workplace harassment, and the cost of devaluing women. I highly recommend Ellevest’s blog—written by and for women—to demystify personal finance, from budgeting to investing and retirement planning.”
- Where Should We Begin? podcast hosted by Esther Perel. "A one-of-a-kind look at relationships, intimacy, and the unspoken challenges women face in creative and personal lives."
This collection is just the beginning—there’s a vast world of media that amplifies the voices and experiences of women and gender-minority creators. Whether through storytelling, music, film, or analysis, these works remind us of the power of representation and the importance of creative resilience. We hope these recommendations inspire, challenge, and empower you in your own creative journey.