La potencia feminista from a historical view: The Tribune of the World Conference of the International Women’s Year and the desire to change everything

Abstract

Verónica Gago theorizes la potencia feminista as an alternative theory of power. Departing from the multiple forms of oppression that subjugate women, the author theorizes the desire to change everything. We propose to revisit the discussions held at the Tribune of the World Conference of the International Women’s Year, 1975, through la potencia feminista. Amidst the Cold War, thousands of women - from the global south and north, from socialist and capitalist countries - gathered for the first time to discuss their role in society. These women gathered at the Tribune and made themselve s visible; in assembly, they discussed the multiple forms of oppression to which they were subjected. Discussions abounded, differences multiplied, and unanimities were scarce. Yet, we found at the Tribune an embryo of la potencia feminista as the desiring capacity which still spurs the historical fight for equality. Departing from historical documents and direct reports from those who attended the event, we conclude that it is evident the desire of those women to change power structures and to displace the limits to which they were subjected to, even among their own heterogeneity. Relying on the international diffusion literature, we also conclude that the Tribune left valuable contributions that were transnationally spread and translated, which still nowadays orient feminist movements.

Keywords

• feminist theory
• tribune of the world conference of the international women’s year
• international diffusion of ideas