When Feminism Speaks in Many Tongues: Lessons from Six Countries

Over the past year, the Oberlin Global Feminist Collective has conducted a comparative qualitative study of feminist movements in Vietnam, South Korea, Latin America, France, Germany, and South Africa. This project brought together activists, scholars, and community leaders from each region, generating a mosaic of perspectives that reveal the complexity and resilience of global feminism.

In Vietnam, feminism often intersects with nationalist narratives and indigenous traditions such as Đạo Mẫu (Mother Goddess Worship). This blending of cultural heritage with feminist advocacy has created unique spaces where women can claim authority, not only in the public sphere but also in the spiritual realm. Yet, the challenge remains: how to translate cultural respect into structural equality in politics and law.

South Korea’s feminist landscape has been shaped by rapid industrialization, digital activism, and generational shifts in attitudes toward gender roles. The country has seen powerful online movements, such as the Escape the Corset campaign, challenge beauty standards and patriarchal expectations. But these advances face strong backlash, revealing the persistence of deeply entrenched social norms.

In Latin America, feminism takes to the streets with a force and visibility unmatched in many regions. Movements like Argentina’s green wave for reproductive rights demonstrate how mass mobilization, combined with strategic legal advocacy, can shift public opinion and change legislation. The region’s activism is often rooted in intersectionality, linking gender justice with economic, racial, and indigenous rights.

France offers a feminism steeped in philosophical tradition and debates on secularism (laïcité). French feminists grapple with the challenge of reconciling universalist ideals with the realities of intersectionality, particularly in relation to immigrant and Muslim women. The conversation here is as much about who defines feminism as it is about its goals.

In Germany, the legacy of reunification continues to shape feminist priorities. East and West German histories have created different attitudes toward childcare, employment, and gender roles. Additionally, immigration has brought new dimensions to the feminist agenda, including advocacy for migrant women’s labor rights and protections against racialized gender violence.

South Africa’s feminism cannot be separated from its history of racial apartheid and economic inequality. The movement here emphasizes community safety, gender-based violence prevention, and economic empowerment, with a strong focus on solidarity between racial and class groups.

From this cross-cultural study, three lessons stand out. First, context matters — feminist strategies must be adapted to fit local histories and realities. Second, digital tools amplify movements but cannot replace the trust and accountability built through grassroots networks. Third, cross-movement dialogue is essential to avoid isolation and to enable the strategic exchange of ideas.

When feminism speaks in many tongues, it resists the homogenizing tendencies of globalization. Instead, it becomes a tapestry — each thread retaining its unique color and texture, yet woven into a shared vision of justice. The strength of global feminism lies not in erasing difference, but in learning to hear, respect, and speak across them.