Work

The collision of feminisms, sexuality, and trafficking in persons in the Caribbean—A place for Kempadoo

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The existence and development of feminist scholarship and practice have been revisited by feminist anthropologists and sociologists exploring it among the gendered cultural and historical dynamics of the Caribbean. Feminist Caribbeanists’ pioneering efforts that fit within this theoretical family have challenged the Global North status quo to shape new ways of “doing feminism.” Kamala Kempadoo's trailblazing efforts take up this mantle and expand feminist possibilities. This article traces the evolution of Caribbean feminisms, attending to the dynamics and contentions using the voices of foundational feminist Caribbeanists as context. It celebrates Kempadoo, foregrounding examples of how she has been central to cementing this work and disrupting exogenous discourses. Through these examples, I highlight the intersectionality of Caribbean feminisms, cite feminism as a “decoding tool” for social phenomena and explore the need to continue Caribbeanist scholarship. Standing on Kempadoo's shoulders, it introduces excerpts on how my own work is influenced by and expands Caribbean feminisms through Indigenous methodologies, amplified voices, and critical literature. In essence, the article argues that feminist anthropology as a discipline can gain much from applying Caribbean feminisms. Though not homogenous, Caribbean feminisms continue evolving and deserve recognition as a unique knowledge producer.

Source: Feminist Anthropology

DOI: 10.1002/fea2.70036

Author: Cherisse Francis

Institution: St Mary's University Twickenham London

Language: English

Topic: Caribbean history, culture, and politics

Subfield: Cultural Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090