Populists, gender, and national identity

In this contribution, I explain that neither populists nor their voters are a homogenous category. Yet, they share a selective approach to liberalism and an exclusivist vision of human rights. The right-wing populist backlash against gender (gender ideology) is an example of a propaganda war that al...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of constitutional law 2020-07, Vol.18 (2), p.447-454
Main Author: Anna Sledzinska-Simon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Gender
Human rights
International law and human rights
Liberalism
National identity
Nationalism
Populism
Propaganda
Sex discrimination
Voters
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Summary:In this contribution, I explain that neither populists nor their voters are a homogenous category. Yet, they share a selective approach to liberalism and an exclusivist vision of human rights. The right-wing populist backlash against gender (gender ideology) is an example of a propaganda war that also takes the form of legal battles in national parliaments and courts. It is characteristic that the war against gender in Central and Eastern Europe masks the old rivalry between Russia and the West and drives on the traditional notion of national identity. This article argues that both the concept of national identity and the concept of gender are undergoing a process of change and must encompass hybrid, fluid, and multiple identities. It also calls for the universalization of values typically associated with women, such as empathy, responsibility, and tenderness, rather than focusing on female submissiveness or complementarity.
ISSN:1474-2640
1474-2659
DOI:10.1093/icon/moaa047