Afro-Latin American Feminisms and Territorial Resistance Against Extractivism in South America

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, September 2026 | pp. 43–56

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001298

Article Type: Research Article

Title: Afro-Latin American Feminisms and Territorial Resistance Against Extractivism in South America

Names of Author: Dr. Camila Montoya-Silva¹

Author's Affiliation: ¹Institute for Gender and Cultural Studies, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.

Abstract:
Large-scale mining, agribusiness expansion, and hydroelectric megaprojects across South America disproportionately displace rural Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities, destroying vital ecosystems and ancestral territories. Within these frontlines of environmental conflict, Afro-Latin American women have emerged as fierce defenders of land, water, and collective survival, framing ecological devastation as an assault on the female body and community sovereignty. Despite facing state criminalization and targeted violence, female territorial leaders articulate a distinct political vision that links anti-racism, gender justice, and environmental stewardship. This paper examines the activism of Quilombola and Afro-Colombian women’s movements resisting extractive industries in Brazil and Colombia. Utilizing decolonial and Afro-Latin feminist frameworks, the study analyzes movement manifestos, oral testimonies, and participatory mapping workshops. Through discourse analysis, I illustrate how Afro-descendant women redefine sustainable development by prioritizing communal land tenure, ecological reciprocity, and intergenerational care over capitalist extraction.

Keywords: Afro-Latin feminism, extractivism, territorial resistance, environmental justice, Quilombola women, decoloniality, Brazil, Colombia

Manuscript Timeline: Received: June 21, 2026; Revised: July 28, 2026; Accepted: August 01, 2026; Published: September 15, 2026.

Citation: Montoya-Silva, C. (2026). Afro-Latin American Feminisms and Territorial Resistance Against Extractivism in South America. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 43–56. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001298

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