Decolonial Feminism: María Lugones’ influences and contributions

Abstract

Hierarchies of knowledge can be noticed in feminist studies, particularly between dominant/mainstream feminisms, generally from the Global North, and subaltern feminisms from the Global South. Subaltern feminisms seek to unmask the social-racial-geopolitical limitations of mainstream feminisms, forging feminisms more plural and inclusive. María Lugones is considered one of the most important representatives of subaltern feminisms in the Latin American decolonial debate. The purpose of this paper is to present the trajectory of María Lugones, particularly focusing on the discussion of her works and theories on Coloniality of Gender and Decolonial Feminism. Her works are fundamental for gender discussions from a decolonial perspective, and further debate is necessary on her important contributions.

A Conversation with Favianna Rodriguez: World-Making through Decolonial Feminist Artivism

“…Thus, referencing decolonial feminisms in the plural is important given the different nuances and contexts of the theories and praxes. Central components of decolonial feminisms includes affirming that gender is a construct of modernity/coloniality, expanding the narrow treatment of gender in theories and analyses about decolonization, and centralizing resistance, plurality, and coalition to defy the logics of categorial, hierarchical, and dichotomous colonial power (Sandoval 2000;Lugones 2007 andPérez 2010;Rodrigues 2022). As feminist philosopher María Lugones advocated, working towards a decolonial feminism includes "learn [ing] about each other as resisters to the coloniality of gender at the colonial difference, without necessarily being an insider to the worlds of meaning from which resistance to the coloniality arises" (Lugones 2010, 753).…”