Constellations of Care: Anarcha-Feminism in Practice

by Cindy Barukh Milstein

What do we do when the state has abandoned us? From failing health systems to housing crises to cascading ecological collapse, it's increasingly evident that state-centered politics do not protect us from the violence of colonialism and capitalism, fascism, and patriarchy. In fact, they actively work to harm us.
Anarchist feminism—or anarcha-feminism—shows us how we tend to our social relations can build a new world inside the old one. We can care for each other when nothing else will, supplying communal well-being and liberatory horizons.
From communitarian kitchens to medic collectives, squatted social centers to queer theater troupes, Ljubljana to Mexico City,  Constellations of Care  powerfully underscores that we already have everything we need and desire in one another to carve out lives worth living.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Politics, Social Justice, Activism, Queer, Philosophy

448 pages, Paperback

Published April 20, 2024

About the author

Cindy Barukh Milstein is a diasporic queer Jewish anarchist and longtime organizer. They've been writing on anarchism for over two decades, and are the author of Anarchism and Its Aspirations and Try Anarchism for Life: The Beauty of Our Circle. They edited the anthologies Rebellious Mourning: The Collective Work of Grief and Deciding for Ourselves: The Promise of Direct Democracy, among others.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully expansive conversations, recollections, reflections, and creations from different anarcha-feminists groups across the world. I loved the varied backgrounds of the movements, how they came to be and their struggles and victories. I was fascinated by the conversations on safe spaces, conflict, grief and medicine. All chapters were very accessible and each author wrote without defense but complete openness.

"Love is not keeping your hands clean; Love is courage."

[Hestia Istiviani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because my favorite bookseller told me to. I asked her what book I should read to understand how an Editor works. She gave me Constellations of Care.

This book brings me many new things. The magic hand of Cindy Milstein and anarcha-feminism itself.

I haven’t heard what anarcha-feminism is yet. So I googled it while read the book. Throughout Constellations of Care, I learnt that collective care indeed an important movement to fight for equality.

I got touched by most of the stories. The genuine act from activists makes my jaw drop. Before I read this book, I didn’t know that kind of movement exists. They are arranging an anarchist library, medical aid, communal pots, and so on. They do it without any help from the state (yes, that’s how anarchist works).

I also just realized that it’s okay to fight for a cause with our capacity. That means, every act matters. We don’t need to do all the things. We have to admit that there is limitation from us. Do not fall for capitalistic mindset of what productivity is.

I am really enjoy reading Constellations of Care. This book challenge my belief and my opinion, makes me thinking of some idea, make me reassess what I believe as “equality.”

Oh, reading this in the middle of chaotic Indonesia brings me hope that our kind of collective care (it’s called “Gotong Royong”) perhaps could save us from inhuman + greedy regime.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha encantado. Ver todas estas formas de anarco feminismos en práctica, como mujeres e identidades disidentes hacen unión para poder proporcionar prácticas de cuidado y revolución contra el patriarcado. Es un ejemplo y esperanza para la lucha.

[Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming read. Lots of honest conversations and practical down-to-earth advice.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I contributed a translated interview and another translation to this volume, I'm not a neutral party here. However, I highly recommend this collection. This is an expertly edited anthology, each piece lovingly crafted, welcoming the reader into the authors' worlds, and bringing to light numerous forms of struggle, organizing, and care from an anarcha-feminist perspective. It skews away from providing definitions, theories, or how-tos and rather demonstrates what anarcha-feminism looks like, as the title says, in practice. Through practice we see the presencing of anarcha-feminism where it often goes overlooked, we see the ethics it embodies, and the revolutionary nourishment it provides. This is a welcome addition to the all-too-limited literature on anarcha-feminism, and an important reminder of the necessity of incorporating anarcha-feminist principles into our everyday lives and socio-political work.

[Martyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspirująca książka o całym wachlarzu różnych anarcho-feministycznych inicjatywach na świecie przez medyków na ulicach i food not bombs po aborcyjny dream team. myślę, że osobom przeciwnym ideom anarchizmu mogłaby pomóc zrozumieć o co tak na prawdę chodzi, a dla mnie i innych osób anarchistycznych ta książka może stać się oparciem, przypomnieniem, że jest mnóstwo osób na świecie, które myślą, jak my.

[Crystal Palmisano-Dillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t love the sections that are interview style but in each chapter/story there’s a nugget of wisdom or encouragement that is invaluable.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring collection of stories! Definitely a good reminder of what anarcha-feminism can bring us in dark and troubled times like these.

[Lyuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard not to feel that we’ve lost the momentum of the 60s-70s, that it may of been our last change to transform oppressive systems into ones that truly serve the people & are managed by the people. Books I’ve read often lead me to question whether we’ll ever escape this deeply entrenched neoliberal hellscape, wondering “Will we ever make it out of here alive as a society? Are we doomed to be consumed by corporate greed infiltrating every aspects of our lives till there is nothing left?”. Yet, this book has been such a breathe of fresh air, reminding me that even the small steps matter & that giving up should never be an option.

I hope Constellations of Care: Anarcha-Feminism in Practice offers readers with the same sense of hope it has given me. May it service as a source of inspiration for those seeking to become more engaged and active within their communities. As the world continues to shift further to the right, this book provides a small sliver of light: reminding us that even small, deliberate actions can create meaningful change & potentially ignite wider global movements. For anyone feeling lost and overwhelmed by the systems we live in, I recommend adding this to your reading list.