Maria Lugones facts for kids

María Cristina Lugones (born January 26, 1944 – died July 14, 2020) was an important Argentine feminist philosopher and activist. She was also a professor who taught about literature and women's studies.

María Lugones lived in the U.S. and thought of herself as a woman of color. She believed this identity was formed by working together with other feminists. Her ideas helped people understand how to fight against different types of unfairness in Latin America, the U.S., and other places.

She was well-known for her ideas about having "multiple selves" and for her work on decolonial feminism. This is a way of thinking that challenges how old colonial ideas still affect us today. She also developed the idea of "coloniality of gender," which suggests that the way we think about gender was often forced upon people by colonizers.

Education and Teaching Career

María Lugones studied at the University of California, where she earned her first degree in 1969. Later, she received her master's degree in 1973 and her PhD in philosophy in 1978 from the University of Wisconsin.

She began teaching philosophy at Carleton College in 1972. She worked there for over 20 years, becoming a full professor. In 1993, she moved to Binghamton University. There, she taught about comparative literature and women's studies.

Lugones's work was influenced by many thinkers. These included Gloria Anzaldúa, Audre Lorde, and Kimberlé Crenshaw. She also worked as a "popular educator" outside of universities. In 1990, she helped start La Escuela Popular Norteña in Valdez, New Mexico. This school was inspired by the Highlander Folk School, which taught people about social justice.

Key Ideas and Research

María Lugones wrote many important essays. These were collected in her book, Pilgrimages/Peregrinajes: Theorizing Coalition Against Multiple Oppressions (2003). This book explores how people can work together to fight against many kinds of unfairness.

Understanding Different Selves

One of her key ideas is about "a plurality of selves." This means that people can feel like different versions of themselves in different situations. Each time we shift, it's like we are entering a new "world."

For example, someone might feel like one person at home with their family and a different person at school with their friends. Lugones believed that understanding these different "selves" helps us understand ourselves and others better.

What is "World-Travelling"?

Lugones wrote about "World-Travelling." This is a way of trying to understand how other people see the world and themselves. By trying to "travel" into someone else's "world," we can begin to understand them better. This can help us to truly care for and connect with others.

She explained that we can feel comfortable in different "worlds" if we understand their ways. This includes speaking their language or finding common interests. However, just being comfortable is not enough to truly understand someone.

Lugones said we also need "playfulness." This means being open to new ideas and ways of thinking without strict rules. When we combine "playfulness" with "loving perception" (seeing others with care), we can truly understand and connect with people who are different from us.

How Did Colonialism Affect Gender?

In her later work, Lugones focused on "coloniality." This refers to the lasting effects of colonialism, even after countries become independent. She looked at how colonial ideas shaped our understanding of gender.

Lugones argued that the way we think about gender today was often forced upon people by colonizers. She called this the "coloniality of gender." Before colonization, some societies had different ways of understanding gender. For example, some Native American tribes had different roles for men and women than those introduced by European colonizers.

She believed that understanding this history helps us challenge unfair systems. It shows how gender ideas can divide and control people, especially when combined with other factors like social class or ethnicity.

Recognition and Awards

In 2016, María Lugones was honored as a Distinguished Woman Philosopher. This award was given by the Society for Women in Philosophy.

Illness and Death

María Lugones passed away on July 14, 2020, at the age of 76. She died in a hospital in Syracuse, New York.

See also

In Spanish: María Lugones para niños