Celebrity humanitarianism: ethics, gender and coloniality

Annika Bergman Rosamond

Chapter 38 in Handbook on Gender in World Politics, 2026, pp 252-258 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Celebrities increasingly seek to shape global politics through discursive interventions and engagements with global justice campaigns. They adhere to broad cosmopolitan principles of justice that recognise our responsibility to humanity at large. In this chapter I critically assess the ethical underpinnings of celebrity humanitarianism, identifying gendered differences between male and female forms of celebrity humanitarianism. A key claim is that celebrity humanitarianism is undergirded by intersecting power relations pertaining to gender and coloniality. I illustrate this argument by reflecting on Nicole Kidman's advocacy work within UN Women; what I define as global celebrity motherhood. I also explore Sean Penn's conduct in terms of masculinist protection of distant others. Finally, I reflect on Donald Trump's celebrity status which is defined by toxic masculinity and isolationism.

Keywords: Celebrity Humanitarianism; Global Motherhood; Masculinist Protection; Gender; Coloniality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781803923765
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