The Lodestar

Leah Libresco Sargeant’s “The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto" is a refreshing and quietly radical contribution to contemporary feminist thought. Instead of celebrating autonomy as the highest good—as much of modern feminism tends to do—Sargeant argues that human flourishing is rooted in our interdependence. Her manifesto is not a rejection of empowerment but a reimagining of what true empowerment looks like when we acknowledge the limits, needs, and relational bonds that shape every human life.

A Countercultural Vision of Feminism

Sargeant challenges the assumption that freedom means independence from others. She critiques the cultural pressure to be self-sufficient, productive, and endlessly capable, pressures that often fall heaviest on women. In its place, she proposes a feminism that honours caregiving, vulnerability, and mutual reliance.

Rather than treating dependence as a weakness, she frames it as a universal human condition. Infancy, illness, disability, ageing—these aren’t exceptions to the human story but central chapters. A society that pretends otherwise, she argues, becomes brittle and unjust.

Care as a Political and Moral Priority

One of the book’s strengths is its insistence that care work is not a private inconvenience but a public good. Sargeant pushes readers to imagine social structures that support caregiving rather than marginalise it. She critiques systems that reward economic productivity while ignoring the invisible labour that sustains families, communities, and even economies.

Her writing is grounded in real human experiences—birth, death, parenting, friendship, and the quiet heroism of ordinary care. She invites readers to see these not as sentimental anecdotes but as the foundation of a humane society.

A Blend of Philosophy, Theology, and Lived Experience

Sargeant draws from Catholic social teaching, feminist theory, and personal narrative. This blend gives the book a distinctive voice: intellectually rigorous yet warm, principled yet deeply human. She doesn’t simply argue for interdependence; she models it through stories that reveal how relationships shape moral imagination.

Her theological background enriches the book without alienating secular readers. The spiritual dimension adds depth to her argument that dignity is not earned through independence but inherent in every person.

Why This Manifesto Matters

In a cultural moment obsessed with self-optimisation and individual achievement, The Dignity of Dependence offers a necessary corrective. It invites readers to rethink what it means to be strong, free, and fully human. Sargeant’s vision is not nostalgic or regressive—it’s a bold call to build communities and policies that reflect the truth of our shared vulnerability.

This is a manifesto that does not shout. It persuades through clarity, compassion, and a profound respect for the human person.