Feminism is not only a movement for gender equality but also advocates for environmental protection and peace, as Russian feminists have powerfully demonstrated. The stereotype that women are apolitical and that their protests pose less threat to the regime compared to those of male political parties or non-governmental organizations has been cleverly leveraged by these women. As a result, they have become one of the most active social movements defying state repression. In their manifesto, Russian feminists dismantle the narrative that the war against Ukraine is being waged to protect “traditional values.” This narrative, often rooted in religion, is also echoed in our region. Authoritarian leaders and their followers use it to exploit citizens’ fears and insecurities, caused by various crises, and portray themselves as “saviors.” In reality, they use this narrative to blame contemporary crises on legally guaranteed gender equality, shifting gender roles, and respect for the human rights of those whose lifestyle or identity does not conform to narrow patriarchal norms.
By focusing public anger on women’s emancipation and LGBTQ rights, they deflect attention from the true sources of economic and social insecurity: their own greed for wealth and power, and the corrupt structures they protect to maintain their grip on power. These self-proclaimed defenders of “traditional values” position themselves as protectors of “life from birth,” thus gaining the support of religious leaders and believers from various faiths. However, their true regard for life is exposed by their willingness to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives in senseless wars. To them, the physical deaths caused by war, hunger, disease, or exile mean nothing if these losses serve their geopolitical ambitions. Even less do they care about “social death”—the kind of death where people, though alive, are denied the opportunity to pursue education, employment, and self-fulfillment because of their gender, nationality, religion, class, or other identities. For instance, millions of children born in refugee camps live and die there without ever leaving.
Russian feminists published a manifesto protesting both the war waged by Russia against Ukraine and the manipulations inherent in the war narrative. The manifesto can be found at Jacobin Magazine. Below is a translation of this manifesto:
Russian Feminist Resistance to War: A Manifesto
On February 24, at approximately 5:30 a.m. Moscow time, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special operation” in Ukraine aimed at “denazification” and “demilitarization” of this sovereign state. This operation had been long in preparation, with Russian troops moving towards Ukraine’s border for months. During this time, our country’s leadership denied the possibility of military action. Now, we know those claims were lies. Russia has declared war on its neighbor, denying Ukraine the right to self-determination and the hope for a peaceful future.
We, Russian feminists, declare—once again—that this war has been waged for the last eight years by the Russian government. The conflict in Donbas is a direct consequence of the illegal annexation of Crimea. We believe that neither Russia nor its president has ever been genuinely concerned with the fate of the people in Luhansk and Donetsk. The recognition of these republics after eight years was merely an excuse to invade Ukraine under the guise of “liberation.”
As citizens of Russia and as feminists, we condemn this war. Feminism, as a political force, cannot align itself with aggressive wars or military occupations. The feminist movement in Russia advocates for vulnerable groups and a just society based on equality of opportunity—where violence and war have no place. War brings violence, poverty, displacement, ruined lives, insecurity, and a bleak future. This is utterly incompatible with the core values of feminism. Moreover, war worsens gender inequality and rolls back human rights by decades. Alongside the physical violence of bombs and bullets, war also brings sexual violence, with women being at much higher risk of rape, as history has shown. For these and many other reasons, Russian feminists, and those who share feminist values, must stand united against this war launched by our country’s leadership.
The current war, as Putin’s speeches have made clear, is being fought under the banner of “traditional values,” promoted by government ideologues. These values, which Russia supposedly seeks to impose on the world as a missionary, are enforced through violence against those who reject or hold different views. Anyone capable of critical thinking recognizes that these “traditional values” are rooted in gender inequality, the exploitation of women, and state repression against anyone whose lifestyle, identity, or actions fall outside patriarchal norms. Using such distorted values to justify the occupation of a neighboring country in the name of “liberation” is yet another reason why feminists across Russia must resist this war with all their energy.
Today, feminists are among the few remaining active political forces in Russia. For a long time, the Russian authorities did not see us as a serious political threat, and we were spared some of the repressions faced by other political groups. Currently, over 45 feminist organizations are operating across the country, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, from Rostov-on-Don to Ulan-Ude and Murmansk. We call on Russian feminist groups and individual feminists to join the feminist anti-war resistance and unite in active opposition to the war and the government responsible for it. We also invite feminists worldwide to join our resistance. Together, we can achieve much. Over the past decade, the feminist movement has gained substantial cultural and media power. Now is the time to translate that into political power. We stand in opposition to war, patriarchy, authoritarianism, and militarism. We are the future—and we will prevail.
Calling Feminists Around the World:
Join peaceful demonstrations and launch online and offline campaigns against the war in Ukraine and Putin’s dictatorship. Feel free to use the symbol of the feminist anti-war resistance movement and the hashtags #FeministAntiWarResistance and #FeministsAgainstWar.
Share information about the war in Ukraine and Putin’s aggression. The world must stand with Ukraine and refuse to support Putin’s regime in any way.
Share this manifesto widely. It is crucial to show that feminists oppose this war—and all wars. It is also important to demonstrate that Russian activists are still willing to unite in opposition to Putin’s regime. We are all at risk of state persecution and need your support.
Feminist Anti-War Resistance operates a Telegram channel with additional information (in Russian). For security reasons, members of the initiative remain anonymous. Ella Rossman serves as their representative in London (https://www.facebook.com/eyurossman).
First published on February 27, 2022, by Jacobin Magazine.
