Spellbook Saturday: Proposals for the Feminine Economy

Regular readers may remember I’ve discussed (bastardized?) Armbrust’s work before in the context of a commitment to radical self-care and the current pandemic, but Proposals has been something of an inspiration for some time. Armbrust’s “work explores the collisions and collusions of art, business, gender, embodiment and economics.” Part manifesto, part art publication, Proposals asks, “If Capitalism is an economy that values masculine traits, what could another economy look like?”

With her “12 Principles for Prototyping a Feminist Business,” Armbrust offers readers a path to explore the institutionalization of empathy, connection with the earth, and the embodiment of our values. “As entrepreneurs, we have the opportunity to agitate the current social, political & economic order by experimenting with new business models that honor our values, our humanity, and the earth. A feminist business can model new ways of living, working and being together. This is about transforming our relationship to money, to work, to the earth, to our bodies, and to each other. This is about redistributing power & resources, based on feminine principles. This is about radical social transformation. This is about making the world we want to live in.”

As an ardent feminist, a queer woman, and a business owner, exploring such questions has been formative to the growth of Hedge Witch Botanicals. How can I support myself as I strive for sustainability, connection, and a positive impact through my work? I highly recommend this book to fellow business owners, feminists, or those asking themselves similar questions, particularly as we imagine a new, post-pandemic future.