Walkie-Talkie #3 : Foteini Papagioti
Meet Foteini Papagioti, Greek feminist based in the US, working to promote global gender equality!
Walking the Talk consortium is proudly working with six exceptional feminists from all over the world – aka our team of ‘Walkie-Talkies’. These experts bring unique perspectives and invaluable experience to our mission of promoting Feminist Foreign policies, practices, and funding in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the European Union.
- How would you introduce yourself?
My name is Foteini – it’s Greek and means bright, light or enlightened. I’m a Greek but have lived in the US for about 15 years. I’m a feminist working to promote gender equality globally and in the US with the International Center for Research on Women. I’m a mother of three, who keep my conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation skills sharp for my engagement with the United Nations and its intergovernmental processes. I am an avid reader (latest book I loved: Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior), and an intermittent fitness enthusiast.
- What personal experiences shaped your feminist beliefs? In what way?
I usually jokingly say that I was radicalized when I was listed as my husband’s “dependent” on US immigration forms, but the truth is that growing up, I couldn’t help noticing every day acts of injustice and misogyny against the women in my family, my friends and myself. From their limited education opportunities, to their relationships and marriages, to economic dependence and insecurity later in life, the older women in my family – all smart and hard-working – were just not able to reach their full potential. While things certainly improved for my generation (aka geriatric millennials), it is concerning to see that our progress has been so fragile and our daughters are facing some of the same challenges, only now amplified by new means of inflicting the same harms.
Must read: Discover 5 more Walkie-Talkies’ portraits!
- How would you explain Feminist Foreign Policy concept to someone who has never heard of it?
I would describe it as the actions of a small number of governments to improve the situation of women and girls in the countries they engage with, because they understand that this engagement can be an opportunity to promote change for gender equality.
- Can you remember your first encounter with the FFP approach? What did you think then?
It was back in 2018 when I was doing my Master’s in Global Affairs at NYU. I thought it was an interesting framing that had great potential, and started thinking about how it could be expanded to develop a transformative vision not just for gender equality, but also for peace, social justice, environmental integrity and economic justice. That first encounter led to me developing the FFP Index as my thesis, which I then further expanded and published with ICRW.
- What does FFP mean in your community?
In my feminist advocacy community, FFP is a novel framing for achieving gender equality and envisioning a different world.
- Can you please describe your dream FFP?
My dream FFP framework dares to imagine this different world, drawing inspiration from global social movements, current and historic. It starts with introspection, questioning its own position and how it wields power. It is outspoken and critical of all forms of injustice and inequality. It identifies and promotes promising new approaches to the challenges of our times. It sets ambitious goals and reports on progress. It builds networks and opens up spaces for co-creation.
- In your opinion, what role can young people play in making a feminist foreign policy successful?
You people keep pushing for more, they keep challenging the status quo!
- If you could make one wish: what would you change in your country or region?
I would eliminate gender-based violence in my country.
- A favourite feminist song ? ♫
Not a feminist song per se, but I love Kate Bush’s Running up that hill.