The Initiative for Inclusive Feminism (Norwegian: Inkluderende feminisme-initiativet; IFI) is a Norwegian national intersectional feminist organization that works for equality, diversity and inclusion on the basis of human rights.[1][2][3] It is Norway's main intersectional feminist organization. IFI emphasizes that feminism must be based on human rights and the struggles of vulnerable minorities, and IFI advocates for several vulnerable minority groups, focusing on issues like trans inclusion and anti-racism. Since 2022 IFI has organized Inclusive March 8 together with Sex og politikk (Planned Parenthood), FRI and other organizations.
History and focus
IFI was formed by a group of feminists in 2022 to counter growing transphobia and anti-gender populism,[4] and to build a broad and inclusive feminist movement in Norway, that works on the basis of human rights and respect for the human dignity of everyone. IFI emphasizes that feminism must be based on human rights and the ever-evolving struggles of vulnerable minorities.[1] The organization emerged from the informal network Inclusive Feminism, which was established in 2020 and had around a thousand members by 2024. The Inclusive Feminism network had its roots in a broad and cross-political "Call for Inclusive Feminism," which was published by 2,476 feminists in 2020.[5] In 2023, this was followed up by a feminist call against transphobia, signed by 2,611 feminists, a significant proportion of active feminists in Norway.[6]
Inclusive feminism can be understood as a practical approach to feminism that actively seeks to include and listen to minority groups. The term is often used interchangeably with intersectional feminism, which is based on intersectional theory originally developed by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw as a tool to understand how different forms of discrimination interact.[7] From the third wave of feminism in the 1990s, the intersectional perspective became widespread in modern feminist movements and official equality politics. Most modern feminist movements, ranging from liberal feminism to queer and Black feminisms, now identify as intersectional and inclusive. UN Women emphasized that "the feminist goals of intersectional justice and gender equality can only be achieved if all women and all LGBTIQ+ people are included as part of a broad, intersectional feminist movement rooted in the universality and indivisibility of human rights."[8] The term inclusive feminism has also been used for several years in feminist discussions in Norway, particularly regarding the inclusion of transgender people.[9] Several political parties and youth organizations, especially those on the left and the political centre, have long defined themselves as inclusive feminists and emphasized the need for an intersectional perspective, with the Socialist Left Party stating in their party program that "transphobia is a threat to feminist liberation."[10] Both the Socialist Left Party, the Green Party and the Workers' Youth League[11] define themselves as inclusive feminist parties. The Liberal Party also calls for an inclusive feminism,[12] with Solveig Hillestad stating, in response to transphobia, that "those of us who support an open, modern, and liberal feminism must show that we exist, that we are many."[13] Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud Hanne Bjurstrøm pointed out that the desire for an inclusive feminism "aligns well with Bufdir's attitude survey from 2017, which found that those who are skeptical of queer people, including trans people, are becoming fewer and fewer."[14] IFI's emphasis on an intersectional and holistic understanding of women's interests that takes into account gender and sexual diversity aligns with a modern human rights and women's rights perspective.[15] For example, the CEDAW Committee has described intersectionality as a "a basic concept for understanding the scope of the general obligations of States parties contained in article 2" under the Convention.[16]
While prejudices against minority groups have become less widespread among the general population, especially among the younger generation, the Extremism Commission's report in 2024 pointed out that LGBTQ+ rights are under increased pressure from extremist movements.[17] The Norwegian Police Security Service highlighted in their national threat assessments for 2023 and 2024 that there are indications that LGBTQ+ individuals will become more central targets for extremist groups going forward.[18][19] In 2024, UN Women warned about extreme anti-rights movements using hate propaganda and disinformation to target and attempt to delegitimize minority groups.[8] Norway has also been marked by anti-gender campaigns against transgender people in the 2020s.[20][21] Norway experienced a terrorist attack in 2022 targeting the queer community and Oslo Pride. In 2024 Filter Nyheter called for increased protection of transgender people and stated that "while antisemitism is still taboo among most far-right groups, and they are cautious about how explicit they make their racism, the dehumanization of transgender people and unhinged conspiracy theories about queer individuals are both accepted and encouraged. This is possible because society's reflexes are not strong enough."[22] Christopher R. Fardan at the Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX) writes that transgender people are facing increasing hatred from extremist groups and other anti-gender actors, and that "in light of a growing anti-gender movement intent on disenfranchising trans people, it becomes imperative to focus on recognising gender diversity and ensuring that trans individuals can live free from oppressive structures and violence. This way we can pave the way for a more equitable and democratic society where all individuals can thrive."[4] Celestine S. Kunkeler and Iris B. Segers at C-REX write that "anti-gender movements engage in reactionary mobilisation against women’s and LGBTQI+ rights and visibility in public life" and spread ideas suggesting that "‘the people’ can be defined on the basis of crudely biological norms, and that ‘others’ can be oppressed or excluded and stripped of their rights on that basis."[23] Marianne Gulli, the president of FRI Oslo and Viken, stated that the Initiative for Inclusive Feminism "is important for creating a feminist community that has room for everyone."[24]
IFI's inclusive feminism aligns with the position of large feminist organizations internationally. For example, in Germany, all major feminist organizations have joined forces in the project Together for Democracy, a project aimed at defending "a diverse, free, and open society (and) our democracy and everyone living here against attacks from the far right," including anti-feminist, racist, antisemitic, and anti-queer attacks.[25] At the Feminist Foreign Policy Summit in Berlin in 2022, a wide range of feminist organizations discussed how feminists can counter the anti-gender movement, defend human rights, and strengthen feminist and queer solidarity.[26]
^"AUF er en likestillings- og inkluderingsbevegelse!". Praksis. Retrieved 2024-08-11. Under 8. mars i år, så vi hvor viktig det er med AUFs inkluderende feminisme, og stemme i likestillingsdebatten. I år, som i fjor ble det stor debatt om transpersoners deltakelse i likestillingen. Det siste året har flere stemmer hetset og trakassert transkvinner, og i tillegg ekskludere dem fra parolemøter. Det kan vi aldri akseptere. Derfor sier alle vi i AUF, slik som AUF i Oslo og Akershus sa det i toget, 'transkamp er kvinnekamp'.
^Sørlie, Anniken; Grønningsæter, Andrea Vige; Arnesen, Lars Andre Strøm (2023). «Den transinkluderende kvinneretten». I Ingunn Ikdahl, Kirsten Sandberg, Julie Stewart, Vibeke Blaker Strand, Tone Linn Wærstad (red.). Hellums metode: Festskrift til Anne Hellum. s. 309–320. Gyldendal Akademisk
^«Norway». In Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People covering the period of January to December 2023. ILGA Europe. 2024.
^"Kvinneradioen markerer kvinnedagen". Lokalradio. Retrieved 2024-01-13. – På radiOrakel markerer vi 8. mars med å være med på alternativ 8. mars i regi av inkluderende feminisme
