Discussing Feminism and Revolution: Q&A Session with Alejandra Laprea

Rewritten Article:

Over the past decade, the feminist movement in Venezuela has bolstered its presence on the international stage, largely through the World March of Women. Alejandra Laprea, a longtime activist and continental representative on the March's International Committee, has spearheaded these efforts. We chat with Laprea about the evolution of popular feminism, the obstacles posed by the global conservative backlash, the impact of the economic blockade on women, and the crucial tasks ahead for feminists in the Bolivarian Revolution.

Straight Talkin' with Alejandra:

Hey there! Born in Guayana, a mining state in the south of Venezuela, Abbie Laprea (that's me!) moved to Caracas around thirty years ago. I got sucked into the world of popular feminism around this time, and that's where I stand. I believe popular feminism isn't a finished product but an ongoing collective process.

In the early 2010s, I was part of the "La Araña Feminista," a feminist collective network, and we were growing increasingly concerned about the media blockade Venezuela was experiencing, even within international feminist circles. In a national meeting in 2011, we decided to make our presence known internationally to break these communication barriers. Our aim was to connect with fellow feminists worldwide, share our experiences from the Bolivarian Revolution, and understand each other better.

This is how our organization found its way to an international congress of the World March of Women in São Paulo, which was essentially the start of our active involvement in this global space. Our primary goal was to link our revolution with popular feminism on a global scale, not to ask people to embrace or reject our revolution but to advocate for sovereignty and, if possible, solidarity across borders.

Flash forward a decade, and Venezuela has been fully integrated into the Women's March for ten years. I serve as one of the two continental representatives on the International Committee, which is not just a recognition of my work but an acknowledgment of the contributions we're making in Venezuela to socialist feminism, popular feminism, and internationalist feminism.

So, What's the State of the Feminist Movement at the Continental and National Level?

One valuable takeaway from our participation in the March is that we're part of something bigger - the feminist movement manifests differently across the continent and the world, yet there are common threads that bind us together. We share the effects of crises on working women, as well as the rise of conservative forces pushing back against our progress.

We witnessed a powerful surge in global feminism in the early 2010s. Movements like "El violador eres tú" took the stage, decrying patriarchal practices and demanding change. However, the enemy didn't give up, leading to a conservative backlash that threatens our hard-won rights worldwide.

Rising Fundamentalist Evangelical Christianity - A Threat to Women's Rights

We're seeing an increase in religious fundamentalism worldwide, with a particular impact on women's rights. In Latin America, Christian fundamentalist tendencies are gaining ground, and their primary target is women. These groups promulgate patriarchal ideals and ridicule the changing societal landscape, blaming societal problems on the breakdown of traditional heteronormative family structures.

The Pain of a Capitalist Crisis:

The global context of a capitalist crisis encompasses economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Working-class women bear the brunt of the crisis across the world, but in Venezuela, the situation is especially tough due to the destructive impact of the US-led economic blockade.

Weathering the Storm:

In the World March of Women, we don't acknowledge a single crisis; instead, we focus on multiple crises that each manifest differently. As we face setbacks at the global, continental, and national levels, the feminist movement and the Bolivarian Revolution have pressing challenges.

The Venezuelan feminist movement needs to unite and establish a common agenda capable of attracting diverse viewpoints. We must strengthen the connection between popular feminism and other revolutionary movements, and reevaluate the status of campesino feminism and the anti-patriarchal commune within our communes.

Taking Charge of the Institutional Level:

At the institutional level, the feminist movement has achieved notable victories - progressive laws, a women's ministry, women's ombuds offices, and special courts. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that these gains translate to real outcomes for women. Many of our laws lack appropriate regulations, making enforcement difficult.

Your Anti-Patriarchal Commune:

One essential question to consider is, "Where is the anti-patriarchal commune?" The anti-patriarchal commune was intended to form the fabric of our communes, yet it remains an unresolved task. Another question is, "What happened to the campesino feminism?" We must rekindle our alliances and ensure that feminism is deeply embedded in the heart of the revolution.

Addressing Cultural Narratives:

A critical issue we need to tackle is the damaging narrative that paints feminists as angry women who hate men. Feminism is not about hating men; it's about dismantling patriarchal structures.

The Way Forward:

International spaces like the World March of Women, Vía Campesina, Friends of the Earth, and ALBA Movements emphasize education, debate, and collaboration. Their work is grounded in popular and feminist pedagogy that promotes discussion, reflection, and strategy development.

At present, the Women's March focuses on four strategic initiatives: the protection of bodies and territories, autonomy over our bodies and common goods, peace, and demilitarization, and feminist economics as a transformative project. As we regroup, we hold firm as the enemy watches closely - and so do we.

Popular Feminism - An Ever-Evolving Movement for Change:

As a passionate Venezuelan committed to the revolution, I'm committed to participation and popular feminism resonates with this. Popular feminism represents ongoing collective reflection and action, recognizing that we're part of the pueblo and can generate knowledge and change. By harnessing our collective wisdom and on-the-ground practices, we can build a brighter future. 🌟

Insights:

Communal Feminism: This movement emphasizes community-based initiatives and collective action to challenge patriarchal structures and capitalist systems. In Venezuela, the first national gathering on communal feminism attracted over 1,600 women participants, focusing on economic, political, and social transformations within local communes.
Religious Fundamentalism: A challenge for feminist movements in Latin America, religious fundamentalism reinforces patriarchal norms, particularly in the areas of reproductive rights and gender equality. In some countries, religious groups have mobilized against feminist policies, such as abortion rights.
Impact of Global Conservatism: Despite progress, the global conservative backlash poses significant challenges to feminist movements across the continent. In many countries, conservative movements have pushed against feminist gains in areas such as reproductive rights and gender equality.
Economic Instability: Economic instability exacerbates gender inequalities, with women often bearing the brunt of austerity measures and societal instability. Latin American feminist movements, like popular feminism in Venezuela, aim to address these issues by promoting alternative economic models.
Cooperation and Solidarity: Building strong community networks across borders helps feminist movements collaborate effectively and push back against global conservatism and economic hardships.
Progressive Policies: Advocating for progressive policies and legislation that protect and expand feminist rights remains a crucial strategy to confront reactionary forces.
As the Bolivarian Revolution progresses, the challenges faced by the feminist movement in Venezuela, particularly the impact of the economic blockade and the rise of fundamentalist evangelical Christianity, demand renewed attention and possible solutions within the broader context of international politics and general news.
With the global increase in religious fundamentalism, it is crucial for the feminist movement in Venezuela to address this issue, maintaining a focus on solidarity and the potential connections that can be made across borders in their ongoing struggle for socialist, popular, and internationalist feminism.
In the face of unresolved issues such as the status of the anti-patriarchal commune and campesino feminism within the Bolivarian Revolution, the feminist movement must continue to engage in critical self-evaluation and collaboration with other revolutionary movements to cement feminism's position and ensure lasting change.