Unpacking intersectional solidarity: dimensions of power in coalitions

Abstract

Scholars have often oscillated between celebrating the transformative potential of solidarity and recognising the ambivalent nature of cooperation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups. How can we make sense of these differences? This article addresses this question by unpacking intersectional solidarity along two dimensions: the ways issues are framed; and the extent to which organisations adopt a transformative praxis to redress disparities in resources and representation. By focusing on the interplay between discursive and material dimensions of power, we identify four types of intersectional solidarity, with different transformative potential. The usefulness of this typology is illustrated by means of secondary analysis of coalition work developed around reproductive justice and domestic workers’ rights. It shows that only an ideal form of transformative solidarity reflects feminist normative theorising of an alliance across differences.<br /><br />Key messages<br /><ul><li>Feminist alliances that do not alter power disparities lead to the marginalisation of minority issues and the co-optation of less powerful organisations.</li><br /><li>Intersectional solidarity requires a durable commitment to the eradication of all forms of power asymmetries within a coalition so as to transform it into a collaboration among equals.</li><br /><li>Our typology overcomes the opposition between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ solidarity by showing that there are several intermediate forms, with different consequences for the nature, outcomes and longevity of cooperation.</li><br /><li>Advanced forms of solidarity require strategies that transform the framing of issues, the way resources are shared and the forms of deliberation and representation.</li><br /><li>Transformative solidarity reflects normative theorising about the good life and highlights the importance of a deep and sustained engagement with the ‘other’.</li></ul>

Stories of Antiracist Gay/Lesbian Gender Alliance: Articulating Intersectional Solidarity in the 1980s

“…Yet whether intersectional coalitions across race, class, gender, and sexuality are temporary, and instrumental, remains unclarified. Moreover, authors tend to use alliances and coalitions interchangeably (Ciccia and Roggeband 2021; S. Roth 2021).…”

“…. where trust is built through repeated contact, connection, conversation, and collective action.” Helpfully, some are using the term “intersectional solidarity” to indicate developing understandings of intersectional coalition (beyond general movement coalition), and to indicate they likely involve more unique forms and distinctive challenges of forming intersectional “relations of connection” (Ciccia and Roggeband 2021, 181; Einwohner et al 2021). In this article, I offer a portrait of how a group of antiracist gay men created relations of connection and in sharing stories of them, constructed them as relations of multidimensional gender alliance, analytically expanding our understandings of intersectional solidarity beyond one concept of coalition enacted among women.…”

Producing feminist solidarities in practice

“…Whereas social movement scholarship using the concept of 'intersectionality' focuses on organisational arrangements concerning actors, resources and strategies, and defines 'intersectional solidarity' as inter-organisational quality, expressed through long-term and multi-issues alliances (Ciccia and Roggeband, 2021), more abstract feminist theory underlines the importance of affects, knowledges and both intra-and interpersonal mechanisms. The feminist theory that speaks about 'reflective solidarity' is strongly informed by standpoint theory (Haraway, 1988;Harding, 2004).…”

How emotions shape feminist coalitions

“…Although coalition and emotion are central to feminist and social movement theories, there is relatively little work that brings emotions and coalitions together. Understanding what emotions do (Ahmed, 2014) in feminist coalitions deepens our understanding of their dynamics (Ciccia and Roggeband, 2021;Einwohner et al, 2019). The aim of this article is to develop a framework for conceptualizing the emotional dimensions of coalitions, with particular focus on how power operates through emotion in feminist coalitions.…”