On Feminism's Fourth Wave: A Big Ideas Talk with Alka Arora

The first three waves of feminism gave women increasing political power, re-defined relationships between the genders, and gave us new frameworks for understanding the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Despite this progress, we have also seen enormous backlash and re-consolidation of the dominant power structures, evidenced dramatically in the 2016 presidential election and ensuing events. Meanwhile, climate change threatens our survival, and may render moot all our social justice gains. What’s next?

Gender reconciliation activist and Women's Spirituality professor Alka Arora offers an expansive vision for feminism’s fourth wave—inviting richer dialogue with men and third gender individuals. Her view is deeply ecological, recognizing our interdependence with and accountability to non-human animals and the Earth. She envisions this feminist future as restorative, emphasizing healing and wisdom as well as creativity.

Join Dr. Arora as she explores how we can move beyond critique to focus more on the world we want to co-create.

Alka Arora is an Associate Professor of Women’s Spirituality at CIIS and received her PhD in Women Studies from the University of Washington. Her primary area of scholarship is feminist spiritual activism, and she brings this perspective to all her teaching, research, and service. Her courses at CIIS include “Spiritual Activism,” “Conscious Leadership Among Women,” and “Teaching to Transform: Liberatory Feminist Pedagogies.” She also facilitates public workshops with Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (GERI), a non-profit organization that draws on the power of truth-telling and dialogue to effect change. Dr. Arora is currently working on a book about the future of feminism.