Fighting for Utopias…intersectionally?

utopien.intersektional.erkämpfen
(intersectional fight for utopias!)

And why this motto? Why is intersectionality important and why are we focusing this year on fighting for our utopias?

Together with you and the invited speakers we want to increase our awareness of different power relations, try to understand their interaction and consider what intersectional, feminist alliances and struggles can look like.

The criticism of white, middle-class "feminist" movements has existed for a long time and has been discussed a lot. As early as 1851, Sojourner Truth asked the question: "Ain't I A Woman?", criticizing that the focus on a supposedly common oppression based on gender completely excluded the racism and classism experiences of black women.

The demands and feminist battles of Black, Indigenous and WomenLesbianTrans*Inter* of Color were then and now marginalized and unnoticed by white mainstream feminist movements. Feminism means equal treatment - and justification - of all WLT*I*, which is why feminist movements can only be effective if ALL identities and positions of ALL people are considered in relation to the associated social experiences of discrimination.

"there is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives." - audre lorde

It is essential that in feminist discourse we include the various power relations - racism, classism, ableism, cis-sexism, etc. - in our reflection, question normative viewpoints, and give a voice to marginalized persons and groups who have intertwined experiences of discrimination in their social positioning.

Because power relations work simultaneously. everywhere. intersectional.

Kimberlé Crenshaw, a Black American lawyer, first used the term intersectionality in 1989 in a scientific essay. She was inspired by the image of a street intersection where power lines cross, overlap and overlap. It is important to recognize that multiple afflictions do not only appear individually and parallel to each other, but are intertwined and interdependent.

"if we aren't intersectional, some of us, the most vulnerable, are going to fall through the cracks." - kimberle williams crenshaw

At this year's IN*VISION we want to focus on our utopias. Together we want to design a future in which we feel comfortable.

Utopia describes a perfect "non-place" in the future, a place that neither was nor is, but could be. Our daily political work is a struggle that makes us tired and can take us to, if not beyond our capacities. Most of the time it is a fight against something. We are aware of how necessary anti-discrimination work is, that we must resist and point out social injustices. This is important and at the same time a pity, because we don't want to lose sight of what we are fighting for and where we want to go: We have an (in*)vision of a better society, a utopia we dream of.

So there's also a "for something" in addition to the "against something". We would like to explore what our reason is, what our motivation could be, in an intersectional way. By focusing on our utopias again, we want to confront resignation and exhaustion and gather new strength.

"when i dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether i am afraid." - audre lorde