The making of a feminist urban space and commons: the case of Montevideo’s Plaza las Pioneras

Abstract

Inaugurated in March 2020 in Montevideo (Uruguay), the Plaza las Pioneras is a new minimalist public space in tribute of Uruguay’s feminists or “pioneers”.  It is both a city managed public square and an adjacent building given by the city to an assembly of six feminist collectives to administrate and use for the common good. It a rare example of an urban feminist space and commons. This article argues that conditions specific to the political, social and temporal context in Montevideo led to the creation of the Plaza. The goal of this article is to analyse process around the creation and development of the Plaza as well as the actors involved, their role, dynamics and intentions. It also aims at using this case study to enhance the concept of feminist urban commons. This article is based on documentary research, 13 interviews and participatory observation that took place in November 2022 in Montevideo. It finds that the context specific conditions in which it emerged as well as the process led to its feminist nature and goals. This also shaped how it is used by feminist collectives to advance their own goals. This case study is important to understanding the production process of feminist urban spaces and commons, their contribution to the feminist movement and to a feminist city. It implies that leadership at the municipal level is key, as are horizontal partnerships between government and the feminist movement.