Toward a Decolonial Feminist Anticapitalism: María Lugones, Sylvia Wynter, and Sayak Valencia

Abstract

This article traces the centrality of capitalism in the work of three decolonial feminists: María Lugones, Sylvia Wynter, and Sayek Valencia. Elaborating on the role of capitalism in each of their work separately, I argue that each of these thinkers conceptualizes capitalism in a novel and urgent way, charting new directions for both theory and social movement practice. I thus argue that the decolonial feminist tradition holds crucial philosophical and historical resources for understanding the emergence of capitalism and its endurance.

Feminist resistance building in the Brazilian agroecology movement: A gender decoloniality study

“…However, a fourth wave has recently emerged, which consolidates previously initiated debates. It is commonly characterized by the political and strategic enhancement of the diverse, intersectional feminist segments and their multiple identities and demands around the world (Bohrer, 2020;de Hollanda, 2020;Paludi et al, 2019). Accordingly, the so-called hegemonic feminism, guided by a Eurocentric perspective, excludes the experiences of other women around the world and imposes itself as a global standard, which can be considered a form of epistemic violence (Bertolt, 2018;Bohrer, 2020;de Hollanda, 2020;Lugones & Spelman, 1983).…”

“…In parallel, in recent decades, women's mobilizations around the world have emerged, questioning hegemonic feminism and giving visibility to ideas, practices, and strategies of women that had no place in the dominant perspective (Bertolt, 2018;Bohrer, 2020;Matos, 2010;Mohanty, 2003;Paludi et al, 2019). Mohanty (2003), a feminist theorist of postcolonialism, considered one of the first counter-hegemonic voices in the Global North, claims that the Global South should contemplate the efforts of re-gendered and racialized aspects of society in order to overcome the devastating effects of global restructuring on feminist studies and the category of "gender."…”

“…Despite their relevance, rural Latin women have been denied and oppressed (Daron, 2009;de Hollanda, 2020), especially in social relations, public policies, and even official statistics in the Global South (Leite et al, 2019). Western hegemonic feminist perspectives, prioritizing white-bourgeois women, proved fragile to understand and endure the identity demands of millions of women who would be doomed to remain invisible by maintaining this interpretation of reality (Bertolt, 2018;Bohrer, 2020;de Hollanda, 2020;Lugones & Spelman, 1983;Matos, 2010;Mohanty, 2003). Contrary to this view, decolonial feminism emphasizes the co-constructed experiences in grassroots movements that emphasize local realities, with their incarnated histories and subjectivities (Koobak & Marling, 2014).…”

Toward Decolonial Feminisms: Tracing the Lineages of Decolonial Thinking through Latin American/Latinx Feminist Philosophy

“…Placing the work of Lugones, Wynter, and Valencia into conversation with one another, Bohrer tracks the crucial insights of these thinkers regarding the deep imbrication of capitalism, colonialism, racism, and heterosexism. Considering their insights together, Bohrer contends, yields an emphasis on a polycentric and multifaceted methodological approach to theorizing capitalism that “attends to differences across multiple geographies” (2020, p. 537). As she argues, “Rethinking what capitalism is in line with the insights of Lugones, Wynter, and Valencia reveals it to be a deeper and more complex system than is often supposed; this in turn requires that resistance too becomes more capacious to rise to the challenge” (2020, p. 537).…”

“…Considering their insights together, Bohrer contends, yields an emphasis on a polycentric and multifaceted methodological approach to theorizing capitalism that “attends to differences across multiple geographies” (2020, p. 537). As she argues, “Rethinking what capitalism is in line with the insights of Lugones, Wynter, and Valencia reveals it to be a deeper and more complex system than is often supposed; this in turn requires that resistance too becomes more capacious to rise to the challenge” (2020, p. 537). The gathering convened in Bohrer's decolonial feminist survival kit thus emphasizes the importance of multiplicity and difference in both our decolonial feminist theory and resistant praxis.…”