1944 – 2020
María Lugones (1944–2020) was an Argentine-American philosopher and activist known for her foundational contributions to decolonial feminism, Latina philosophy, and philosophy of race. She developed the concept of the 'coloniality of gender,' extending Aníbal Quijano's coloniality of power to expose how colonial structures imposed a hierarchical gender binary on colonized peoples. Her work centers coalition-building across difference as a political and ethical practice.
Developed the 'coloniality of gender' framework, extending decolonial theory to expose colonialism's imposition of the gender binary
Introduced 'world-travelling' as a practice of empathetic cross-cultural engagement and coalition-building
Authored Pilgrimages/Peregrinajes: Theorizing Coalition Against Multiple Oppressions (2003)
Pioneered intersectional analysis within Latin American and decolonial feminist traditions
Long-time professor at Binghamton University and co-founder of the Escuela Popular Norteña