By JASS Working Group on Feminist Economic Justice

Two years ago, JASS embarked on a learning journey on what we then called Feminist Economic Alternatives. We wanted to explore Power For– our visions of where we want to take models of just transitions, and what a fairer and more sustainable economy would look like. We knew we had to do this even as we continue to resist the power of a capitalist system that fights all efforts to undermine its global dominance. 

We also wanted to study what our partner organizations are currently doing to build alternatives–to collectively identify what works and what doesn’t and to note the basic patterns and dynamics of the economies we need and those that harm us. We also wanted to explore how to create an internal learning space made up of JASS women from all three regions and from global programs that would be horizontal and self-directing, a space for sharing and growing that would feed back into JASS as a whole. 

In that time, we’ve examined and discussed theories of just economies, critiques of the dominant capitalist system and examples of women organizing alternatives. We decided on the term “Feminist Economic Justice” to include a wide range of concepts and actions that both develop on-the-ground alternatives to the current economic model and carry out acts of resistance to change it. We’ve also moved forward in defining what we think are indispensable elements or “patterns” to develop feminist economic justice. 

Here are our key findings: 

To start: 

* We conceive of “economics” in the broad sense as activities that sustain life and hold particular sets of social relations, including projects related to health, education, governance and other areas not traditionally defined as economics. 

* We use the term “feminist” while including and respecting womxn’s organizations that do not identify as “feminist”, but that share the fundamental principles of womxn’s equality, eradication of violence against women, environmental responsibility and the value of care work, among others. 

* We use the term “justice” rather than “alternatives” since we believe that these initiatives must not be viewed as marginal to the unsustainable and destructive dominant model, but are the only viable future for the planet and all living things.

 * Feminist Economic Justice is explicitly anti-capitalist, antiracist, decolonial and actively rejects patriarchal and heteronormative practices. 

* Feminist Economic Justice is holistic, inclusive, fair, earth-friendly and life-giving. 

Critique of the current economic model

All JASS regions concur that the neoliberal model is destroying the earth and generating historic levels of inequality, concentration of wealth, violence, displacement and hunger. The model– characterized by the market-based principles of profit and capital accumulation, private property, unregulated market dynamics and a reduced state role in the economy–prioritizes productivity and growth over sustainability and well-being.

We shared the global, regional and local manifestations of this model that we’re seeing and found that they are very alike in our different countries, including: 1) intensified extractivism and destruction of natural resources, leading to different kinds of disasters and oppressions; 2) privatization of common lands, goods, culture and knowledge;  3) increased violence to assert social control and control over resources, 4) an increase in attacks on democracy and democratic forces and a rise in authoritarian and fascist forces; 5) a decrease in regulation and economic management by the state; 6) trade liberalization that has resulted in the underdevelopment of the industrial sector and the devastation of agriculture; 7) more open and brutal use of racism to suppress populations and exploit segmented workforces; 8) exploitation of labor based on hierarchies established by patriarchal, racist, and neocolonial structures. 

By understanding these structural manifestations, we understand more deeply the basis for cross-regional solidarity and what to beware of and prepare for in terms of systemic tendencies and responses. 

Patterns we seek to disrupt/break/rechannel

1. Neoliberal extractivism and its control of our economic/political arrangements and dynamics, 
2. “Development” measured as macroeconomic growth, mercantilism and resource exploitation
3. Import dependency and export orientation
4. Racist and patriarchal ideas, practices and policies
5. Gender-based and sexual violence, militarism and structural violence 
6. Militarism, war and structural violence and
7. Hyper-individualism and consumerism
8. Climate change

Patterns we seek to create/reinforce/extend

1. Gender justice, women’s leadership, inclusion and valuing diversity
2. Local democratic decision-making and control over resources, 
3. Economies, policies and practices that value, compensate and integrate care activities, usually led by women
4. Practices that value and strengthen the relationship with nature and other living things, 
5. Integrating healing, self help, protection in our daily work
6. Building food sovereignty, 
7. Collective, non-violent actions for the common good
8. Creating mechanisms for savings and loans, 
9. Assuring access to and preservation of lands, 
10. Forming alliances that assure sustainable political accompaniment and financing, and organizing so small initiatives can create leverage and scale up. 
11. Capacity building for leaderships, especially women’s leadership

In Mesoamerica, in Southeast Asia and in Southern Africa women are building local economies for a better future. We will continue to study and document these projects to see what works, what doesn’t, and what’s needed. As this work expands we are weaving a community of thought and practice to support organized, women-led projects that create new forms of interaction and trade to sustain families and communities in the midst of systemic crisis.