Fostering Queer Feminist Intersectional Resistances against Transnational Anti-Gender Politics

Project Information

RESIST

Grant agreement ID: 101060749

DOI

10.3030/101060749

EC signature date 8 June 2022

Start date 1 October 2022

End date 30 September 2026

Funded under

• Culture, creativity and inclusive society

Total cost

€ 2 379 425,75

EU contribution

€ 2 379 425,75

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RESIST (Fostering Queer Feminist Intersectional Resistances against Transnational Anti-Gender Politics)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2024-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

RESIST addresses ‘anti-gender’ politics that imperil equality, gender and sexual diversity, and legitimacy of critical knowledge in contemporary Europe.
It understands ‘anti-gender’ movements to take multiple forms, manifest differently in diverse national contexts and exists across the political spectrum, from centrist, left-wing, and right-wing ideologies to both authoritarian and liberal-democratic regimes. Adopting an intersectional perspective, RESIST analyses how ‘anti-gender’ politics limit gendered freedoms, challenge trans* inclusion, and undermine multiculturalism and gender and sexualities equality. These dynamics have serious and dangerous consequences for academic freedoms, freedom of expression and press freedom, reproductive justice, sexual and gender diversity, and self-determination.
RESIST mapped how ‘anti-gender’ discourses and politics are produced and expressed in contemporary Europe. Then RESIST examined the effects of ‘anti-gender’ politics on everyday lives and forms of resistance using 104 interviews, and 36 focus groups with people affected by these mobilisations. RESIST now moves to learn from queer feminist practices of resistance against ‘anti-gender’ politics in stages 3 and 4 amplifying marginalised voices. RESIST outputs are based on robust data that can inform and support diverse audiences to support the flourishing of democratic societies.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

RESIST has mapped ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations and listened to people who are affected by them.

RESIST mapped ‘anti-gender’ politics in Europe by integrating an analysis of parliamentary records, media coverage and ‘controversy mapping’ to understand how a hostile focus on ‘gender’ is mobilised nationally and transnationally. It gathered and analysed data across EU Parliament, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland and the U.K. Research mapped 'anti-gender' in parliamentary debates (206 parliamentary transcripts) and media coverage (1000 newspaper articles), and through controversy mapping (6 cases). Main achievements: mapping of the transnational nature of ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations; demonstrating the critical importance of ‘anti-gender’ politics to a broader assault on civil society and establishing the generative importance of media coverage and dynamics to ‘anti-gender’ politics.

RESIST analysed the lived effects of ‘anti-gender’ discourses, mobilisations and politics, and understanding the everyday resistances developed by affected communities across nine European case studies: Ireland, Spain, France, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, Belarus, Greece, and individuals living in exile. It undertook 104 interviews and 36 focus groups with LGBTIQ+ activists, feminists, and used 58 Relief Maps. RESIST developed and tested a survey question for EU surveys. Main achievements: demonstrated effects of ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations across political and cultural boundaries; established compound effects on marginalised individuals and their experiences of its pervasiveness, and highlighted strategies of resistance.

RESIST has begun to collaborate with 40 CSOs to counter ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations aiming to collectively generate a strategy for a queer feminist network. To date, RESIST has undertaken 30 expert interviews; created a confidential searchable multimedia database; and organised workshops.

Overall, RESIST’s outcomes contribute to the contestation of illiberal and authoritarian forces; reinforce democratic processes and address marginalisation through a focus on anti-feminist, anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-intersectional mobilisations. It is creating a new understanding of ‘anti-gender’ that can inform policy and support those who are targeted and harmed by these politics.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

RESIST demonstrated how there is a fluidity and ambiguity to what constitutes ‘anti-gender’ politics is key. ‘Anti-gender’ mobilisations produce a hostile hypervisibility of transgender people; this has only taken shape recently. Media creates a platform for ‘anti-gender’ actors, with sensational content in competitive and fast-moving media environments a significant advantage.

RESIST has revealed the profound impacts of ‘anti-gender’ movements on those individuals and communities targeted, and how it fosters hostile environments and anti-democratic practices. RESIST shows that resistance and solidarities are essential in countering these discourses and mobilisation. Intersectional strategies are significant enabling marginalised individuals to build coalitions and amplify their voices in public and policy debates.

RESIST has published 4 reports and 49 associated summaries/translations. These develop understanding of the mode and effects of ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations to develop effective counter actions to these, where RESIST is now focused.

RESIST has innovated methodologically, developing new forms of EU parliamentary analysis, creating new survey questions to understand the scale of ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations and using the Relief Map tool. Together these tools investigate and monitor ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations and their effects from the interpersonal to the transnational.

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