State and Feminism: Independent Realms.

Theoretical Foundations of Libertarian Feminism in Argentina.

Abstract

In the context of a government that has openly opposed the demands of the Argentine feminist movement and advanced in the dismantling of gender policies, the existence of feminist activism that simultaneously supports Argentina's first libertarian government is striking. This study explores the origins, principles, activities, and slogans of Mujeres por la Libertad, a libertarian feminist group that emerged in the public sphere in 2022, through an analysis of its social media presence. Drawing on first-wave liberal feminism and the principle of legal equality, they position themselves as opposed to 'hegemonic feminism'. Understanding their particularities, as well as the theoretical foundations that underpin them, provides insight into the apparent contradiction between their two activist affiliations and sheds light on their expectations of the government and the State as a whole. An analysis of their slogans on violence, the State, and the individual reveals an underlying disconnect between the feminist agenda and public policy. Their discourse emphasizes self-defense in the face of physical violence against women. Violence is rejected in all its forms, thus erasing the specificity of gender-based violence. Within this framework, the state is expected to assume a strictly securitarian role, in line with a traditional liberal perspective.