Mobilizing Against Gender: Alliances and Resonances between Anti- Gender and Far-Right Discourse

In recent years, anti-gender movements have emerged as key players in the political and cultural dynamics of various European countries, often intertwining with far-right forces. Building on on-site qualitative research on a major anti-gender organization in Italy, this contribution explores the discursive resonances and strategic alliances between anti-gender and far-right organizations. Specifically, it examines the campaigns led by PV&F and draft laws proposed by Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) to illustrate how both rely on nativist ideology to advance specific conceptions of nationhood, citizenship, and social justice. They do so by portraying the nation as rooted in a perceived cultural and biological identity that is threatened by external influences, including the demands of feminist and LGBTQ+ movements. The analysis is enriched by ethnographic data gathered at public events organized by PV&F. This data serves a dual purpose: first, to critically reflect on the challenges of accessing anti-gender organizations, particularly the difficulty of gaining the trust of activists and organizers, as well as the consequent impossibility of obtaining information on their internal structures and relationships; and second, to trace the involvement of far-right actors in these events. Through participant observation, I was able to map the interactions between these actors within the hybrid spaces of public gatherings, shedding light on their networks and strategic alliances.