The philosophical framework developed by Maria Lugones challenged established norms by identifying gender as a colonial imposition. A prolific academic and activist, she navigated diverse intellectual landscapes, from comparative literature to decolonial feminism, while consistently maintaining a focus on the political identities forged through coalitional work among women of color.
Academic Trajectory and Teaching
Born in Buenos Aires in 1944, Lugones pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of California, earning a BA in 1969. She continued her education at the University of Wisconsin, where she completed a master’s degree in 1973 and a PhD in philosophy in 1978. Her teaching career spanned several decades, beginning at Carleton College in 1972, where she rose to the rank of full professor before departing in 1993. That same year, she joined Binghamton University, serving as a professor of comparative literature and women’s studies. Her instructional repertoire included philosophy, interpretation and culture, along with programs dedicated to Latin American, Caribbean, and gender studies.
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Take the IQ test →Theories of Plurality and World-Travelling
In her 2003 publication, Pilgrimages/Peregrinajes: Theorizing Coalition Against Multiple Oppressions, Lugones introduced the concept of world-travelling. This methodology examines how individuals navigate different social realities and the perceptions others hold of them. By fostering a sense of playfulness and loving perception, she argued that individuals can transcend the arrogant gaze often used to marginalize others. This work also posits a plurality of selves, suggesting that shifting identities correspond to entering new worlds. Furthermore, she explored intersectional resistance through the concept of curdling, which challenges oppressive logics of purity through practices like multilingual experimentation and gender transgression.
Decolonial Feminism and the Coloniality of Gender
Lugones significantly advanced the study of decolonial feminism by synthesizing Aníbal Quijano’s theory of the coloniality of power with feminist frameworks. In essays such as Heterosexualism and the Colonial/Modern Gender System, she proposed that gender is a classification system imposed during colonization to subjugate populations based on ethnicity and class. She supported this research by analyzing pre-colonial, gynecratic Native American tribes. Beyond her theoretical contributions, she engaged in practical activism, co-founding La Escuela Popular Norteña in New Mexico in 1990, an institution inspired by the Highlander Folk School model of popular education.
Final Years and Recognition
Throughout her career, Lugones held visiting appointments at various international institutions, including the Universidad Andina Simón Bolivar and the Instituto Tilcara de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. Her contributions to philosophy were formally acknowledged in 2016 by the Society for Women in Philosophy, which named her a Distinguished Woman Philosopher. In 2020, the Caribbean Philosophical Association awarded her the Frantz Fanon Lifetime Achievement Award. Shortly after receiving this recognition, Lugones died on July 14, 2020, in Syracuse, New York, following complications from lung cancer.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Died: 2020, Syracuse, New York
- Education: University of California, University of Wisconsin
- Primary Academic Roles: Carleton College, Binghamton University
- Key Publication: Pilgrimages/Peregrinajes: Theorizing Coalition Against Multiple Oppressions (2003)
- Activism: Co-founder of La Escuela Popular Norteña
- Languages: Spanish, English, Aymara
Questions readers ask
What did Maria Lugones mean by the coloniality of gender?
She argued that gender was not a universal feature of human society but a colonial imposition used to classify and divide people.
What is the method of world-travelling?
It is a theoretical approach used to understand how others perceive themselves and their worlds, relying on playfulness to build connections across different identities.
Achievements
- Held posts at Binghamton University and Carleton College