Once vibrant with global solidarity, the feminist movement now grapples with bitter divisions, fueled by social media. Yet, a quiet resurgence of offline alliances, from kitchen table talks to frontline community organizing, offers a powerful antidote to the fragmentation and the rising threat of the far-right.
The article reflects on a hopeful period in the 2010s when feminist solidarity flourished globally, with women connecting and campaigning on diverse issues, from refugee rights to abortion access. This era of optimism, exemplified by protests at Yarl’s Wood and the work of organizations like Women for Refugee Women, has since given way to significant divisions within women's movements, described as 'bitterly depleting.' The author notes a loss of unifying vision and a troubling tendency for feminists to dismiss the struggles of those unlike themselves, often exacerbated by the anger-rewarding dynamics of social media, particularly in debates concerning transgender women. However, the piece shifts to highlight a quiet but powerful counter-movement: women are building alliances 'brick by brick' offline. Examples include Jessie Brinton’s Mothership project fostering 'kitchen table conversations' to combat loneliness, Gill Wright’s Northern Heart and Soul in Wigan empowering women through community projects, and Cullagh Warnock’s One Million Women and Girls network connecting women to local politicians in the north-east on practical issues like safety and jobs. Elaine Crory in Belfast illustrates women's leadership in organizing against male violence and the far-right, providing essential community support during crises. The article concludes by acknowledging the undeniable crisis for women—threats to rights, resource scarcity, and rising authoritarianism—but insists that 'care and connection can be stronger than the hate and the heat,' with women actively weaving these crucial connections day by day, offering a resilient path forward.
