The Feminist Combining Process
created by:
Sangeeta Ahmed, Ashley Howard and Hiywete Solomon
Introduction to Feminist Combining
The Combining Process specifically defines the developmental phase at which the mainstream Feminist cause recognizes that other social, economic, and political issues previously believed unrelated or irrelevant are in fact inextricably linked with the movement. Motivated by this realization of multiple hierarchical polarizations, combining is expressed by internalizing these goals into the mainstream agenda of the feminist movement and by building effective coalitions and alliances with other movements, not necessarily informed by a singular gender identity. In this way the Women’s Movement goes beyond the traditional struggle against gender hierarchical polarization to become a struggle against multiple societal hierarchical polarizations including non-gender types of oppression and injustice.
The Combining Process is manifested in the creation of a movement informed by more than gender, race, class, or other types of identity politics. It recognizes the common struggles and solutions across movements led by various marginalized groups and works towards mutually beneficial ends, without necessarily relinquishing the original identity and cause of the movement. We see Combining achieved when seemingly disparate issues are recognized as different manifestations of a larger problem that society is suffering from, and thus integral parts of the feminist struggle.