Young Feminist Network (Nelly Basilly)
Multigenerational organizing is important because it combines shared learning, trust and respect. It creates a space for feminists from different age groups and diverse backgrounds to come together to strengthen our movements towards a world that is just for all, and that moves away from the old, narrow hetero-patriarchal worldview.
Young feminists feature prominently in discussions about multigenerational organizing because historically strategies and programmes designed around the needs of a specific generation have focused on youth and young women. The sexual and reproductive health and rights movements, and the formation of organizations like the Youth Coalition are examples. This is partly because young feminists have advocated for their needs as a group to be recognized, and have pushed for representation, support and resources while also recognizing that this is a hard fought struggle because their identity as young feminists is in flux. As Loubna H. Skalli writes in the blog post Generations in Dialogue, Beyond the Blame Game: “What the younger generation tends to resent is not seniority per se, but rather what I call hegemonic seniority. They particularly resent the exclusionary practices of established activists that neither recognize nor value what young generations can bring to the movement.”
