Women’s Political Activism in Right Wing and Fundamentalist Organisations

Abstract

Frequently women’s political activism takes place under conditions, and within organisations, that are not sympathetic to advancing the status and welfare of women, or which are even antagonistic to the idea of women’s rights. Internationally across various political contexts, women in increasing numbers are engaged in right wing and fundamentalist political organisations, from the revitalised right wing groups in central Europe to Islamist groups in the Middle East. This raises questions about the motivation of women who join organisations whose political programmes do not support women’s rights and may even advocate a reduction of existing rights. Are there similarities in the motivation of women in these different contexts? Or are there significant differences in the gender dynamics of different types of political organisation? Are women co-opted to serve the purposes of the political organisations of which they are members, or are they acting in their perceived self-interest? Do they influence the agenda of the organisation with which they are engaged and in this way are they able to advance their perceived self-interest? This panel welcomes papers in this area which address the questions through the analysis of individual cases, or comparative case studies or which have a theoretical or conceptual focus.

Title	Details
Women’s Activism and Gender Relations in ‘Anti-Immigration’ Mobilisations. The case of the Northern League in Italy	View Paper Details
Eroding Equality: Right-Wing Women and Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women	View Paper Details
Explaining Women’s Activism in Fundamentalist Islamist Political Parties: The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood	View Paper Details