A study led by researchers from the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC) at the University of Granada concludes that cooperation between cis-heterosexual women and LBTIQA+ women (Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer, Asexual and other identities) within the feminist movement is strengthened when it is based on shared goals and respects the diversity of identities of the groups involved.
The paper, based on four correlational studies with a total of 1,249 participants and co-authored by Danna Galván-Hernández, Ángel del Fresno-Díaz, Soledad de Lemus and Lucía Estevan-Reina, analyzes the psychological mechanisms that foster the construction and maintenance of these alliances.
The results show that coalitions based on shared goals promote cooperation and collective action more effectively than models that seek to integrate all groups into a single group, which dilutes the differences between them. According to the authors, sharing a common political horizon facilitates joint mobilization without the need to overlook the specific characteristics of the groups forming the alliance.
The research, published in the journal Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, also shows that a strong feminist identification acts as an important driver of support for joint collective actions. However, the results indicate that the way the alliance is conceived is crucial to its success. In contrast to models that propose integrating all groups into a single group, participants showed a greater preference for coalition structures that allow for collaboration without renouncing the specific characteristics of each identity.
The data reveal a fundamental difference between two concepts that are frequently confused in scientific literature: sharing goals and perceiving oneself as similar. While the perception of similarity is associated with a preference for single-group models, the recognition of common goals is the factor that most clearly drives cooperation within a coalition. The results show that groups do not need to perceive themselves as identical to work together; rather, sharing a common political horizon is sufficient.
The research also identifies differences between the participating groups. While the idea of a single group does not generate rejection among cis-heterosexual women, LBTIQA+ women may interpret this model as a form of assimilation that reduces the visibility of specific experiences and needs. In contrast, the coalition structure favors mobilization and support for collective action in both groups.
Another outstanding aspect of the study is the influence of the sociopolitical context on the construction of these alliances. Data collection was carried out during the intense public debate generated by the so-called Trans Law in Spain between 2021 and 2024. In this highly polarized context, appealing to shared goals took on special relevance for LBTIQA+ participants as a tool to sustain cooperation within the feminist movement.
The results also indicate that the meaning attributed to discourses about differences between groups could vary depending on the context. Although previous research had linked the recognition of differences with forms of inclusive solidarity, during the debate on the Trans Law, many LBTIQA+ participants interpreted these references as potentially exclusionary. According to the researchers, this finding highlights that concepts like diversity or difference do not have a fixed meaning, but rather depend on how they are used in each political and social moment.
The authors note that their conclusions expand upon classic social psychology models of intergroup cooperation and provide useful guidance for understanding the functioning of contemporary social movements. The study highlights that coalitions based on shared political goals constitute a particularly effective path to strengthen collaboration among diverse groups without the need to homogenize their identities. In this sense, the results suggest that building broad and stable alliances depends more on the ability to articulate common goals than on the homogenization of the groups that comprise them.
Reference
Galván-Hernández, D., del Fresno-Díaz, Á., de Lemus, S., Estevan-Reina, E. (2026). Solidarity Among Disadvantaged Groups: Feminist Identity and the Preference for Coalition Over One-Group Alliances Among LBTIQA+ and Cis-Heterosexual Women. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 36(4): e70295. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.70295
Contact
Danna Galván Hernández - @email