Russian women, Ukraine war, and (Neglected) writing on the wall: From the (Im)possibility of world traveling to failing feminist alliances

We argue that the Russian feminist and resistance groups, Pussy Riot, Feminist Antiwar Resistance, and Les Pleureuses, operate and should be acknowledged as agents of social change, and leaders of cultural opposition during the current Russia-Ukraine war. We establish Second World Feminism and Russian feminism as its cultural product in this essay. We argue how, in the years preceding the war, Pussy Riot repeatedly protested the totalitarian grip of the Russian state, its corruption, and the concretion of the Russian Orthodox Church and the state in creating conditions of female obedience and oppression. Further, we analyze the emergence and the ongoing activism of the anti-war resistance movement, FAR and its branch Les Pleureuses, in their fight against war, patriarchy, authoritarianism, and militarism. We illustrate how and why Russian feminists/resistance groups became agents of dissent, and can become torchbearers of peace. We examine the collectives' potential contribution to and compatibility with transnational feminist alliances and make a case for including both Russian and Second World Feminisms as meaningful and impactful perspectives within the framework of transnational feminism.

Automated summary

This article argues that Russian feminist and resistance groups, such as Pussy Riot, Feminist Antiwar Resistance, and Les Pleureuses, play a significant role as agents of social change and leaders of cultural opposition during the Russia-Ukraine war. These groups have consistently protested against the totalitarian control of the Russian state, its corruption, and the oppression of women by the Russian Orthodox Church and the government. Additionally, the article examines the emergence of the anti-war resistance movement and its fight against war, patriarchy, authoritarianism, and militarism. The authors emphasize the potential contribution of these Russian feminists and resistance groups to transnational feminist alliances and advocate for the inclusion of Russian and Second World Feminisms within the framework of transnational feminism.