Let’s Get Offensive

In my forthcoming book The Joy of Feminist Leadership, I propose – using both the Pareto Principle and a sports analogy – that feminist leaders and changemakers shift from 80% defense and 20% offense to 80% offense and 20% defense.

In a defensive position, we brace ourselves to fight back the opponent. Our energy is focused on calling out their moves and stopping them from proceeding.

In an offensive position, we are focused on and working for our goals, or the world we dream is possible. We embody our vision for a more beautiful and loving world as we collaboratively move toward our collective flourishing and liberation.

When I worked in a recovery house in Philadelphia in the 1990s, I learned the mantra “what you resists persists.” When we focus our energy on unjust systems and practices, we not only make them stronger – we typically engage with this work in ways that reflect and reify oppression. For example, when we demonize the opposition because we think their beliefs are horrid, we both fuel their vitriol and embody colonial-patriarchal duality and separation.

Even when we are in a relationally or politically subordinated position, we can choose to play offense. It may feel like we are causing harm to the movement by going against the grain, but in fact we are protecting our emotional wellbeing and integrity – and activating our long-term vision and goals – by resisting the systems and ideas that we wish to transform.

I’m not suggesting that we get rid of defense altogether. It is necessary for our dignity and self-preservation. But saturating our actions with defensiveness limits what we make possible through our feminist leadership. Both defense and offense are important, and we ought to be aware of when we are engaging in these approaches and shift our strategy and energy for balance that leads to meaningful, sustainable change.