Transformative Feminist Leadership: What It Is and Why It Matters

Abstract

The words of ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tsu make the simplest, yet most profound, case for transformation – a change of direction, a fundamental shift in the nature or character of something, recasting the existing order and ways of doing things. This is what the world needs now, as institutions and systems of the past century prove unable to address the challenges of impending planetary disaster, persistent poverty, pandemics, rising fundamentalism and authoritarianism, wars, and everyday violence. Against a background of a worldwide backlash against women’s rights, gender parity in leadership positions – in legislatures, corporations, or civil society – has proved inadequate, as women in these roles often reproduce dominant patriarchal leadership models or propagate ideologies and policies that do not actually advance equality or universal human rights. What is required is truly transformative, visionary leadership, whereby new paradigms, relationships and structures are constructed on the basis of peace, planetary health, and social and economic justice.