Abolition. Feminism. Now.

Abolition. Feminism. Now. by Angela Davis, Gina Dent, Erica Meiners, and Beth Richie

My next critical read post is about Abolition. Feminism. Now. by Angela Davis, Gina Dent, Erica R. Meiners, and Beth E. Richie!

This book delivers a compelling exploration of the intersections between abolition and feminism. It pushes readers to consider the connections between systemic oppression, carceral systems, and gendered violence to challenge us to envision a society free from incarceration and punitive justice. The authors draw from historical struggles, contemporary activism, and feminist thought to propose abolition feminism as a framework for genuine social transformation. It highlights how carceral systems disproportionately harm marginalized communities, particularly women, non-binary individuals, and those at the intersections of race, class, and gender oppression.

*Abolition Feminism: a feminist movement that seeks to end the prison industrial complex and systems of oppression, also known as "anti-carceral feminism

What makes Abolition. Feminism. Now. particularly powerful is how it highlights the need to combine abolitionist and feminist frameworks into one unified initiative. The authors argue that abolition and feminism are not just complementary. They are inseparable.

Feminism, at its core, seeks to dismantle systems of gender-based oppression, while abolition challenges the carceral systems that uphold these oppressions. Together, they provide a holistic framework for addressing the intersectional harms faced by marginalized communities, particularly women, non-binary individuals, and people of color.

*Carceral Feminism: the reliance on policing, prosecution, and imprisonment as primary responses to gender violence

Carceral feminism fails to address the structural causes of harm and often exacerbates it. Survivors, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, may face criminalization themselves, or find that the justice system dismisses their experiences entirely. Feminist abolition asks us to reimagine justice by prioritizing survivor support, community-driven solutions, and addressing systemic inequalities that perpetuate gender violence in the first place. Rather than viewing prisons as solutions to social issues, the book advocates for transformative justice approaches that address root causes of harm while dismantling structures of violence and inequality.

*Abolition: the action or an act of abolishing a system, practice, or institution

I am thankful for this book because it allowed me to reimagine what abolitionism truly means. For much of my life, I associated the word “abolition” with chaos, disorder, and fear. Abolitionism has long been stigmatized and often dismissed as a radical unrealistic dream or a threat to public safety. For decades, we’ve been told that prisons are the backbone of justice and that the only way to address harm is to lock people away. I grew up in a world that equates justice with punishment, safety with policing, and accountability with incarceration. This book challenged me to look beyond those deeply ingrained beliefs and envision something transformative. Angela Davis and her co-authors invite readers to imagine alternatives. What this book helped me see is that abolition isn’t about tearing down without building back up. It’s about creating something better. It’s about shifting our focus from retribution to restoration. Abolition is a commitment to addressing the root causes of inequality and harm rather than perpetuating cycles of violence through incarceration.

How to utilize this book’s perspective in the context of changes in the new administration:

As we face the policies and politics of the new government administration, Abolition. Feminism. Now. offers a vital lens for understanding and resisting harmful systemic practices. This administration’s tenure was marked by policies that intensified mass incarceration, undermined reproductive rights, and fostered systemic inequalities. The principles of abolition feminism challenge us to address these injustices at their root while offering proactive strategies for change.

The book’s emphasis on dismantling carceral systems aligns with efforts to counter policies that promote punitive justice, such as increased immigration detention and rollback of civil rights protections. It promotes the importance of building coalitions to fight harmful legislation, invest in community care, and protect the most vulnerable from state violence.

Using abolition feminism as a framework, activists, policymakers, and community organizers can push for transformative policies that prioritize restorative justice, housing, education, and healthcare. In this political moment, Abolition. Feminism. Now. reminds us that resistance must be holistic reflect the concept of intersectionality. It calls for sustained efforts to combat the erosion of civil liberties and human rights under the current administration and beyond.

With gratitude,

Olivia