Radical tenderness, as defined by Vanessa Andreotti, is a profound and transformative approach to relationality that transcends conventional understandings of care and compassion. It involves a deliberate, courageous embrace of vulnerability, complexity, and interdependence in our interactions with ourselves, others, and the Earth. This form of tenderness is rooted in a commitment to justice, humility, and deep listening, acknowledging the pervasive histories of harm and the fragility of our shared humanity. Radical tenderness challenges forms of domination and separation, fostering spaces where healing, accountability, and mutual support can flourish. It calls for an ethics of discomfort and a radical reimagination of how we relate, inviting us to hold space for the tensions and contradictions inherent in our collective journey toward more equitable, loving, and life-sustaining systems.

See also: relational justice, global citizenship, systemic violence, indigenous people, climate justice