The Mutations of Anti-Gender Politics and the Rise of Neofascism

Anti-gender politics started rising in the 1990s. Of course, conservative sexual politics had been around much longer than that; but the novelty was then the focus on the concept of gender and on the field of gender studies. But since the 2010s, a new shift has occurred: these reactionary religious crusades have now been joined or superseded by (often secular) neofascist campaigns. Anti-gender mobilisations today are at the heart of far-right social movements and (very often) of the rhetoric and programmes of many parties and governments. They are a central part of various “culture wars”, not only through anti-feminist, heteronormative or anti-trans discourse, but also linked to political discourses against migrants, religious and racialised minorities. How to respond to these new developments in ways that start from an anti-fascist, feminist and anti-racist vision?

The Institut du Genre's seminar "The Mutations of Anti-Gender Politics and the Rise of Neofascism" on October 14, 2024 was a closed discussion centring scholars and activists who have been working in this field for years to assess these mutations – in the context of Europe, and beyond – to better understand the how and why of anti-gender mobilisation, and to explore together where we might go – politically and intellectually – in the terrifying neofascist present. 

All speakers included: Latife Akyuz (Viadrina, Frankfurt); Kath Browne (University College Dublin) ; Sonia Corrêa (SPW Brazil) ; Éric Fassin (Paris 8 / Sophiapol) ; Clare Hemmings (LSE) ; Ayesha Khan (ODI) ; Tomás Ojeda (Université de Lausanne) ; Madeleine Pape (Université de Lausanne) ; David Paternotte (Université Libre de Bruxelles) ; Alyosxa Tudor (SOAS).