Mapping Anti-Gender Discourse in Swiss and Hungarian Media and Politics
Creators: name: Filep, Ekaterina
Publisher: name: RESIST Project
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Political communication
subject: Political sciences
subject: Social sciences
subject: FOS: Social sciences
subject: Journalism
subject: Media and communications
subject: FOS: Media and communications
subject: Political policies
subject: Other social sciences
subject: FOS: Other social sciences
subject: Social geography
subject: Human rights law
subject: Inclusive education
subject: Social issues
subject: Social inequalities
subject: Human rights violations
subject: Human rights
subject: Regional human rights
subject: Political violence
subject: Gender studies
subject: Civil society
subject: Public policies
subject: Gender equality
subject: Gender inequality
subject: International protection of human rights
subject: Nationalism
subject: Queer
subject: Social policy
subject: Anti-abortion
subject: Abortion
subject: Feminism
subject: Discourse analysis
subject: Parliament
subject: Switzerland
subject: Hungary
subject: Social justice
subject: Gender
subject: Homophobia
subject: Homosexuality
subject: Transphobia
subject: Transgender
subject: LGBTQI+
subject: Anti-gender
subject: Threat
subject: Discomfort

description: Over the last years, anti-gender politics manifested itself in different areas of life. It opposes or challenges the principles and goals of gender equality, gender identity recognition, and the dismantling of traditional gender roles. Although fluid and characterized by interchangeable discourses and targets, anti-gender politics commonly opposes reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, transgender rights, Gender Studies at universities, sex education in schools and the notion of gender itself (which is often framed as a foreign imposition and a source of risk to children, the heteronormative family, and the nation).
description: Over the last years, anti-gender politics manifested itself in different areas of life. It opposes or challenges the principles and goals of gender equality, gender identity recognition, and the dismantling of traditional gender roles. Although fluid and characterized by interchangeable discourses and targets, anti-gender politics commonly opposes reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, transgender rights, Gender Studies at universities, sex education in schools and the notion of gender itself (which is often framed as a foreign imposition and a source of risk to children, the heteronormative family, and the nation). 

This presentation will discuss some key ideas associated with the production of media and parliamentary anti-gender discourses in Hungary and Switzerland and reflect on how these discourses contribute to production of uncomfortable spaces. Drawing on the analysis of selected parliamentary records and media outlets and by tracking key controversies predominantly in the period of 2017-2022. The presentation will:



Discuss the key ideas and claims mobilised in political and media discourse and practices in Hungary and Switzerland, which are used to justify the oppressive practices and policies undermining gender equality, diversity, and freedoms.

Discuss a few empirical examples that illustrate the role of such discourses in promoting a sense of exclusion and contributing to making certain spaces uncomfortable when viewed from an intersectional perspective.


Focusing specifically on Hungary and Switzerland, this presentation will draw on the collaborative research findings from the RESIST Project (https://theresistproject.eu) which studied anti-gender mobilisations across 5 case-studies: the European Parliament, UK, Poland, Switzerland and Hungary.

Keywords:

Anti-gender, threat, discomfort, media, politics