Feminë

Feminë is a term used in speculative philosophy and feminist theory to denote a mode of feminine knowledge and social practice characterized by care, relationality, and non-hierarchical organization. The diacritic ë distinguishes feminë as a specific field or project rather than the general adjective feminine.

Origin and usage: The term was coined in early 21st-century discourse and has circulated primarily in academic essays, feminist blogs, and speculative fiction. It is discussed as a framework for rethinking knowledge production, governance, and culture from a care-centered perspective.

Conceptual framework: Proponents emphasize relational ethics, mutual accountability, and affect as legitimate epistemic sources. Feminë is treated as a flexible project with multiple strands, including community design, education, and policy. Critics warn against essentializing feminine traits or diminishing individual agency, arguing that without careful distinction it can reproduce stereotypes or ignore intersectional diversity.

Applications and reception: In literature and media, feminë-inspired worldbuilding sometimes presents care-based economies and nonviolent governance as organizing principles. In academia and practice, it informs discussions of inclusive design, collaborative leadership, and intersectional analysis, while remaining contested in debates about gender essentialism and the limits of universal applicability.

See also: care ethics, relational ethics, feminist theory, intersectionality.