Feminism & Gender

The third webinar in this series delved into the adaptation of research into the feminist movement for developing alternate intersectional feminist research methodologies. Existing research methodologies were also analysed from a queer feminist lens given that research and academia are important pathways for narrative shaping. Participant engagement was invited through the Padlet, Zoom polls and Mentimeter.

The second webinar in this series delved into the normalisation of the violation of bodily autonomy and self determination. It also explored the intersections and possible overlaps between feminism and intersex activism and the possibilities of building bridges between both these human rights movements. Through the discussion, the participants were engaged through a Zoom poll, Mentimeter and Padlet.

Within feminist thought, fragmentations are born out of the variance of lived experiences of individuals and the webinar series- ‘Power of Feminist Narratives: from Fragmentation to Solidarity’, organised by the Heinrich Boll Foundation in collaboration with One Future Collective, aimed at strengthening existing solidarities and creating new approaches for solidarity between feminists globally. This emerged in the context of populist anti-feminist narratives that sought to dilute feminist efforts.

Increase in domestic violence, lay-offs, care responsibilities, restrictions on domestic and international movement, economic insecurities, psychological burdens - these are just a few of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in Asia in the last two years. The gendered nature of COVID-19 impacts is obvious and has sparked large feminist responses in the region.

An example of misunderstood identity and representation politics on the part of the UN: the international intervention to include Syrian women in the negotiation process was not a success.

Feminist leadership requires an active experience of meaningful engagement - a deliberate effort to create the deeper human connections of trust, inspiration, empathy and solidarity. In an age of extreme uncertainty, these connections cannot be an after-thought.

 Lou Herbst talks to Ed Greve about the opportunities and limitations of an anti-discriminatory identity politics, intersectionality and what ultimately leads to a divided society.

Statements we encounter in conversations about left-wing identity politics which it is important to respond to.

Why are identity politics and criticism of discrimination often equated with one another and what consequences does this have for dealing with the ongoing reality of social violence in a serious way?

In the 1990s, excesses of ethnonationalism led to the devastating Balkan Wars. Today, left-wing liberal agents are trying to free themselves from these destructive forces.