What if women envision the future?
The latest issue of COMPASS magazine, published by the Association of Professional Futurists (APF), is a landmark edition celebrating "Women Who Future(s)." This special collaboration between APF and Women Who Future(s) amplifies the voices of women futurists, particularly from the Global South.
Artwork by Amritha R Warrier
A rich tapestry of perspectives
With 30 articles by 40 authors, this edition explores a profound range of topics including gender equality, feminism, intersectionality, motherhood, climate migration, and women's reimagining of education, governance, and our relationship with nature.
The magazine stands out not just for its diverse content, but for its innovative methods. Authors employed participatory futures techniques, collective imagination, dreaming, and intuition to explore potential futures.
Mapping gender and family futures
In our article, illustratated by Amritha R Warrier, with whom I hosted a workshop during Women who Future(s) by the same name, we delve into the often overlooked aspects of gender and family in futures thinking. We argue that these fundamental relationships shape our perception of the world and how we interact with it. Yet, when imagining the future, these everyday aspects of life are frequently sidelined in favor of macro-scale developments.
We highlight how traditional gender roles and family structures have evolved, enabling women to expand their roles outside the home and increasing the diversity of family structures. We emphasize the importance of considering gender and family perspectives when addressing global challenges like climate change, public health crises, and social inequality.
Artwork by Amritha R Warrier
Four provocative scenarios
Our article presents four thought-provoking scenarios for the future of gender and family. The More-than-Human Equality scenario explores a world where the boundaries between human and non-human entities blur. Normative Fluidity envisions a future with highly flexible gender norms and family structures. Techno Hierarchies examines how technological advancements might create new power dynamics within families and societies. Finally, Connected Pluralarchy imagines a world of interconnected, diverse family structures and pluralistic governance.
These scenarios serve as a starting point for readers to consider the myriad possibilities and implications of different futures, encouraging deeper reflection on what "better" means and for whom.
Beyond traditional narratives
By challenging traditional perspectives and incorporating diverse voices, this issue of Compass magazine offers a rich, nuanced exploration of potential futures. It's not really (or not at all, actually) about predicting what might happen, but understanding the complex web of possibilities that shape our collective human experience.
The magazine is available now at APF.org.
