Discussion on Community Feminism in Venezuela with Moira Blanco Cardona

Moira Blanco Cardona is a high-ranking member of the Communard Union, an organization that unites approximately 100 Venezuelan communes, also being the spokesperson for the Women and Gender Equality Committee of the Vencedores de Carorita Commune in Lara state. She's been leading the charge for communal feminism – a type of grassroots, class-based feminism rooted in the struggle for building cooperative, non-patriarchal communities — and recently organized the First National Gathering on Communal Feminism. This exciting event took place in Caracas on March 29, with the participation of around 1,800 women. Let's dive into this interview with Moira, where we'll trace the origins and growth of communal feminism while discussing its strengths, challenges, and possibilities.

Tracing the Roots of Communal Feminism:

The idea of communal feminism can be traced back to 2018, when the Communard Union began advocating for the development of anti-patriarchal communities – demolishing the roots of patriarchy within communities and, consequently, in society as a whole. The following year, the Communard Union was born, with the mission of turning these anti-patriarchal principles into a strong, unified political and societal force with a socialist vision. The Communard Union sought to give the communal movement a voice and direction when it had been all but silenced due to the harsh economic conditions caused by U.S. sanctions and later amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These catastrophic situations made it difficult to access essential goods and services, pushing the poverty rate to extremes. This economic climate had a profound impact on women who were not only forced back into domestic roles, but also faced increased gender-based violence and worsening health conditions.

In 2020, the Communard Union embarked on a broad mobilization effort that included regional meetings in Lara, Anzoátegui, Mérida, Apure, and Caracas. These gatherings provided an opportunity to reflect on the obstacles faced by communes, their strategies for survival, and achievements. Moreover, they aimed to keep alive the fire of the historic socialist project, initially sparked by Hugo Chávez and now carried by President Nicolás Maduro. These debates, attended by over 2,000 people, eventually led to the formation of a female-led working group. This group focused on devising strategies for building anti-patriarchal communities that were informed by their real-life, lived experiences.

During these discussions, the working group presented valuable insights on feminism, its definition, and the way it should be practiced. At first, some participants had concerns about potential divisions in the broader struggle, but it was clear that a new kind of feminism was required to address the unique challenges faced by grassroots communities. It wasn't long before they realized that this feminism, inspired by their everyday lives and the fight to establish utopian communities, was something they were already living every day.

It was during a regional meeting in Lara, organized by the Argelia Laya Collective (a group of campesinos who reclaimed their land) that I, Moira Blanco Cardona, coined the term "communal feminism." This expression encapsulated everything they were already doing, uniting their struggles, shared hopes, and lived experiences under one banner.

In reality, communal feminism is the legacy of Venezuelan women like Argelia Laya – a revolutionary, a teacher, and a feminist – and the countless other women who made significant contributions to their communities during the darkest times in Venezuela. During these trying periods, they redistributed food, carried heavy loads of gas on their shoulders, created alternative food sources, and preserved ancestral medical practices and remedies.

The First National Gathering on Communal Feminism, which took place two weeks ago, can be seen as a triumph for the women who organize themselves at the grassroots level. This meeting not only demonstrated the perseverance and unity of these women, but also marked a crucial step forward for the Communard Union.

Today, after years of debate and organizing, communal feminism transcends beyond just a slogan. It's a powerful rallying cry that the Communard Union proudly champions. It stems from the concrete realities of women in Venezuela's communes and from spaces of open dialogue and discussion. Communal Feminism aims to eradicate the contradictions of capitalism and patriarchy by reforming the social, economic, political, and cultural dynamics within communes, which are the pathway to socialism.

Addressing internal tensions:

Tensions within the communal movement stem from patriarchal domination. To tackle these issues, we must take action rooted in our shared experiences and new ways of doing politics. By promoting policies tailored to the specific needs of each communal territory, we can begin to address the challenges that often stem from patriarchy.

The important thing is to make these problems visible and acknowledge them so that we can start changing the power dynamics between men and women. For instance, the growing participation of women in the public sphere does not necessarily correspond to men taking on an increased role in domestic responsibilities, which remains a significant obstacle to building a more equitable society. By shining light on this problem, we can work towards overcoming it.

Women are active and independent subjects whose political identities develop from their daily lives – be it within their families, social groups, or cultural milieus. Therefore, we facilitate educational initiatives grounded in our unique realities, where theory and practice go hand-in-hand.

Education is Central:

Through our education programs, we work towards helping people develop critical consciousness. This development requires dialogue, recognizing our differences and learning from each other, and the exchange of knowledge drawn from the grassroots, ancestral, and scientific fields. As people engage in praxis – the dynamic interplay between theory and practice – they begin to transform themselves, as articulated by Hugo Chávez:

"You'll see that through praxis, many people begin to transform themselves- because it is praxis that transforms us. Theory is theory, but when that theory takes root in the soul, in the bones, in the nerves, in the spirit of a human being and in reality-then, everything is transformed."

Linking Education to Communal Construction:

Our educational initiatives should respond to the precise needs of communities while fostering individual and collective processes of consciousness and organization. As working women, mothers, caregivers, educators, medical professionals, politicians, and cultural creators – we must understand our roles in a patriarchal and capitalist system that perpetuates itself in all aspects of life.

By understanding the oppression and discrimination we face, we can begin to dismantle the system that produces it. Ultimately, it's the grassroots that will bring about change, not just flipping the script, but transforming it altogether.

Can communal feminism reignite the feminist struggle in the country?

I truly believe that the commune is where true socialism will be born – along with the resurgence of feminist struggles and women's organizing. The commune provides an opportunity to create a fairer world free from the oppressive divisions that have hindered progress for so long.

I'm convinced that the Women and Gender Equality Committees already in place in every communal council are powerful tools for driving transformative processes. These spaces of self-organization and power-building have the potential to reach every part of society. Through this committee structure, we work toward the empowerment and emancipation of women within the commune.

This isn't about creating communes just for women or just for men – it's about making a collective break from the past and changing the very essence of life within commune society.

Women's Committees are crucial in exposing the oppression and discrimination faced by women under capitalism and patriarchy. As women, we are the agents of our own liberation, and our actions contribute not only to our own empowerment but also to the liberation of our male counterparts, helping create a new woman and a new man suited for communal society.

Moira Blanco Cardona, as a member of the Communard Union and the Women and Gender Equality Committee, has been instrumental in advancing communal feminism, a grassroots movement aimed at creating cooperative, non-patriarchal communities.
The First National Gathering on Communal Feminism, organized by Moira Blanco Cardona and attended by around 1,800 women, was a significant milestone in the communal feminism movement, highlighting its perseverance and unity.
Communal feminism, born out of the struggles in Venezuela's communes, aims to eradicate the contradictions of capitalism and patriarchy by reforming societal, economic, political, and cultural dynamics, ultimately paving the way for a more equitable society.