Reclaiming culture, resisting co-optation: young feminists confronting the rising right

Overview

This article presents two case studies of young feminist resistance to the rising phenomena of fascisms and fundamentalisms. The first shows young feminists organising in Kenya, and focuses on the battle to repeal a colonial Penal Code criminalising homosexuality. The second, from Brazil, highlights how young Afro-Brazilian feminists are resisting attacks against their religions in a context of racism, rising evangelical fundamentalism, and a political shift to the right. The authors draw on the experience, analysis, and perspectives gained as three young feminists who work at the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), an international feminist organisation which, among other areas, puts emphasis on young feminist activism and feminist responses to religious fundamentalisms and fascisms.