Call for Papers Fem*Fém 72 - Femi(ni)cide

In cooperation with NADIA BRÜGGER (StopFemizid)

129 femi(ni)cides. That is the number of patriarchal murders recorded by the research project Stop-Femizid in Switzerland since 2020 (as of 25 February 2026). There is still no official body in Switzerland to record and analyse femi(ni)cides. The widespread everyday violence to which women and queer persons are exposed has once again become a major focus in recent years, thanks to groundwork laid by the feminist movement. The terms “femicide” and “feminicide” are used within activist and academic circles to accurately describe patriarchal killings of women, particularly in the context of violence within heterosexual relationships, and to highlight their political dimension. Femi(ni)cides are, however, merely the “tip of the iceberg” of gender-based violence. The murdering of women occurs within a social atmosphere that enables and promotes patriarchal violence. According to the binary gender system, which defines and devalues femininity, male violence against women is not a flaw in the system, but one of the central pillars of capitalist patriarchy.

The feminist movement Ni Una Menos (English: “Not One Less”) fights against femi(ni)cide whilst simultaneously articulating a vision of a non-violent world for all human beings. This requires a fundamental transformation of our economic systems, ways of life and relationships, as well as a feminist response to how we treat bodies, capital and land. We wish to stimulate the following and further research questions: What (queer-)feminist and intersectional analyses are needed today to understand femi(ni)cides in their full implications for society? What methods and approaches do explicitly anti-racist, abolitionist and transfeminist analyses offer that we can draw upon? Which concepts are particularly suited to the precise analysis of femi(ni)cides? Which strategies should be adopted to resolutely and collectively oppose the “war on women” (Verónica Gago), especially in times of anti-feminist backlash and fascist tendencies?

• Ideas/abstracts (ca. 1,500 characters) by September 1, 2026
• Articles (ca. 8,000 characters) by December 15, 2026
• Contact: Nina Seiler, redaktion femwiss ch