Bookstores that give Shenzhen women a room of their own

A hundred years ago, Virginia Woolf wrote in "A Room of One’s Own:" "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” The English modernist writer believed that an independent, free and wise woman needed a space of her own, a space that would allow her to get away from the constraints of the external world and focus on her inner world.

Today, in the vibrant city of Shenzhen, several unique women-themed bookstores are playing such a role.

With floor-to-ceiling windows, warm lighting or green plants, these bookstores are run by women with a hope to provide readers with a cozy and relaxed reading environment as well as a space to mingle, to dream and to be themselves, rejoicing in a wealth of books and ideas.

Daixuan Bookstore

Daixuan Bookstore in Bao’an District is regarded as the first women’s bookstore in Shenzhen. The name, Daixuan, comes from the titles of two poem collections by a Qing Dynasty female poet, Chen Yun. The bookstore’s owner, who prefers to be identified as Dr. Ren, is a typical “slasher,” a term that refers to those refusing to be defined or bound by just one personal identity and choosing to undertake multiple careers. In addition to running the bookstore, Dr. Ren is a holder of Ph.D. in gender studies and anthropology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a licensed psychological counselor, a family education instructor and a marriage and family counselor.

A corner of Daixuan Bookstore.

Dr. Ren had previously taught at Shantou University and Southern University of Science and Technology, and had also once worked at a well-known Internet company. Cherishing a dream to create a space both for her own good and that can be shared with others, she opened the bookstore in February this year.

Almost half of the books in the bookstore are from her own collection, with a focus on gender studies, women, anthropology, psychology and other social science and humanities books. “They got dusty at home, so it’s better to take them out and share them with more people. I hope to create a female-friendly space to share with them my ideas on gender issues.”

Dr. Ren found that the bookstore has gradually become more like a “shared living room” for the community, and those who frequent the shop included junior and senior high school students, shopkeepers, parents and their children, and sanitation workers.

“Before the high school entrance exam took place in June this year, two or three girls came to my bookstore to study every evening, and they liked to talk to me in a way as if I was their teacher or sister. I’m happy to find that I’ve become friends with many of the readers,” Ren said. “Your bookstore feels like home and gives me a sense of belonging,” an unidentified young reader once said to Dr. Ren in a hand-written letter.

In addition to offering books for reading and purchases, the bookstore occasionally organizes events such as parent-child reading activities, book-sharing clubs, blind-date events, and film screenings every month.

Opening hours: 2 p.m.-10 p.m. (Reservations needed after 10 p.m.)

Add: No. 14-2, Qiaonan New Zone, Bao’an District (宝安区桥南新区14−2号黛轩书店)

Metro: Line 11, Qiaotou Station (桥头站), Exit A and then walk for 600 meters

Jianta Library

Tucked away in a quiet residential garden in Longgang District, Jianta Library is a small-scale women-themed library housed in a courtyard-style villa with white walls and green tiles. The front door is framed by flower vines which the three psychologists owners call “free spirit.”

Opened to the public in June this year, the library is free for all who want to read. The name, Jianta, or literally “seeing her,” embodies the vision of the three owners, i.e., to let more people see each and every women’s real situation and inner world. Lu Lu, one of the owners, said they decided to open the store after attending a seminar by Laura S. Brown, a U.S. speaker and author on feminist therapy theory and practice.

“In the initial stage, we encountered a lot of obstacles. First and foremost, we realized the reality that it won’t bring a profit, but we still want to do it to empower as many people as possible,” said Ya Ting, another co-owner.

An extra bonus of visiting the library is that it has psychological consultation rooms upstairs run by the three owners.

Jianta Library is housed in a courtyard-style villa. 

The library holds a weekly salon, allowing attendees to discuss issues relating to modern women. Each session has a different topic and each participant is free to express her ideas. The most recent topic is the “gender pay gap.”

Zhi Yuan, another co-owner, is preparing to conduct a series of interviews with female celebrities. “The image of successful women is often one-dimensional. We hope to talk to women who are satisfied with their lives to allow people to see their diversified lives. A successful woman should have much more than just a successful career,” she said.

Opening hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Add: Unit B, Building T21, Phase II of Vanke V Garden, Yayuan Road, Longgang District (龙岗区雅园路坂田万科第五园2期别墅T21栋B单元见她书屋)

Metro: Line 10, Guangyayuan Station (光雅园站), Exit A1

HALF Bookstore

Located on the second floor of a building for commercial use in Nanshan District, HALF Bookstore is not as easy to find as the previous ones. It opened only about two months ago and the owner, who identified herself as Zoe, previously worked at a well-known Internet company. Born in the 1990s, Zoe has always wanted to open such a women-themed store to offer “a room of their own”to Shenzhen women.

Stepping into the bookstore, one will be immediately drawn to a row of wide and bright windows opposite to the door. “In my mind, it’s important to have a desk by the window with a bright and spacious view of the greenery when it comes to reading,” said Zoe.

A corner of HALF Bookstore.

The books there are either written by female authors or on women-related topics. Each book is selected and put on the shelves by Zoe, and she said she spent a lot of effort in order to find the best translation versions of some of the books.

In addition to books, the store sells some creative cultural products, including badges, female-themed T-shirts and bags, all of which are designed by women.

Since its opening, the bookstore has received a lot of attention from female readers and many of them tried to chat with Zoe through the store’s social media account, seeking solutions or suggestions from Zoe for problems they encountered in life.

In addition to books, the store sells some creative cultural products, including badges, female-themed T-shirts and bags, all of which are designed by women.

At the beginning, Zoe tried to answer each question but later found that the number of questions had outgrown her time and energy.

“Instead of offering them sheer verbal comfort, I would like to share with them a methodology or some tools. For example, I would advise a reader to read certain books and seek solutions from those booksin regard to her problem. That’s how I try to help more people,” she said.

The store holds regular salons and screening and reading events, to offer readers ways to get unwired.

“We are only halfway to accomplishing what we planned, and there is still a lot to do. But we are very grateful for the half that has been done, and that’s why I called the bookshop ‘Half,’” Zoe said.

Opening hours: 12 p.m.-9 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)

Add: 2/F, Junxiangda Building, 8 Zhongxiang Road, Nanshan District (南山区中祥路8号君翔达大厦二楼HALF书店)

Metro: Line 12, Tonglenan Station (同乐南站), Exit A