Anti-Gender Politics In The Populist Moment

Description

This book charts the new phase of global struggles around gender equality and sexual democracy: the ultraconservative mobilization against "gender ideology" and feminist efforts to counteract it. It argues that anti-gender campaigns, which emerged around 2010 in Europe, are not a simple continuation of the anti-feminist backlash dating back to the 1970s, but part of a new political configuration. Opposition to "gender" has become a key element of the rise of right-wing populism, which successfully harnesses the anxiety, shame and anger caused by neoliberalism and threatens to destroy liberal democracy. Anti-Gender Politics in the Populist Moment offers a novel conceptualization of the relationship between the ultraconservative anti-gender movement and right-wing populist parties, examining the opportunistic synergy between these actors. The authors map the anti-gender campaigns as a global movement, putting the Polish case in a comparative perspective. They show that the anti-gender rhetoric is best understood as a reactionary critique of neoliberalism as a socio-cultural formation. The book also studies the recent wave of feminist mass mobilizations, viewing the transnational revolt of women as a left populist movement. This is an important study for those doing research in politics, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies and sociology. It will also be useful for activists and policy makers. Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Figures Acknowledgments Introduction: The Demonization of “Gender” and the Crisis of Democracy Gender in the Populist Moment Positionality and Methods The Aims and Contents of the Book Notes 1 Gender, Anti-Gender and Right-Wing Populism: Recasting the Debate Gender, Anti-Genderism and Anti-Gender Mobilization Conceptualizing Contemporary Right-Wing Populism The Role of Affects and Emotions in Right-Wing Politics Questioning the Symbiosis Between Neoliberalism and Right-Wing Politics Populist Revolt Or Elite Change? Notes 2 Mapping the Anti-Gender Campaigns as a Global Movement: From Religious Trend to Political Struggle Religious Origins of Anti-Gender Campaigns From the Vatican to Verona: How a Religious Movement Became a Political One The Moral and Political Geography of the Anti-Gender Movement: Does the East-West Divide Matter? Protecting Children and Families: Moralizing the Socio-Economic Crisis Knowledge Production and Expertise: Academia as a Site of Struggle Anti-gender Campaigns and Feminist Mobilization: the Dynamics of Political Struggle 3 “Worse Than Communism and Nazism Put Together”: Poland’s Anti-Gender Campaigns in a Comparative Perspective Saving the Children and the Nation: Actors and Goals of Anti-Gender Campaigns in Poland Setting the Stage: the First Phase of Anti-Gender Campaigns in Poland Strengthening the Ties: the Second and Third Phases of Anti-Gender Campaigns in Poland Political (Ab)uses of Gender: Who Is Afraid of “Gender Ideology”? Femonationalism vs Good Old Nationalism? Poland in Comparative Perspective Conclusions Notes 4 Gender as “Ebola From Brussels”: The Uses and Abuses of the Anti-Colonial Frame Defenders of the Common People: “Gender” as Colonial Imposition The Anti-Colonial Frame in Practice: Poland as Victim of the Gender Invasion How the East Will Save the West: Moral Geography of Anti-Gender Campaigns and Worldview Theoretical and Political Implications of the Anti-Colonial Frame Conclusion Note 5 Anxious Parents and Children in Danger: The Family as a Refuge From Neoliberalism Family Heroes and Motherless Children: Politicized Parenthood in Verona and Paris Parental Movements as a Conservative Response to Neoliberalism Shaming the Shamers, Protecting the Not-Yet-Born: the Political Emotions of Anti-Genderism Conclusions Note 6 Counteracting Anti-Gender Movements: Toward a Populist Feminism? A New Wave of Feminist Organizing: Women Opposing Right-Wing Populism The Black Protests’ Story: Mobilization Against the Ultraconservative Agenda in Poland Local Struggle in a Global Context Explaining the Success of Black Protests: Why it Happened and Why it Worked Populist Feminism – the Extraordinary Power of “Ordinary Women” Conclusions Conclusion: Gender in the Populist Moment References Index