The presentation critically examines the ethical and methodological challenges of studying far-right and anti-gender movements, where traditional principles of co-production and reflexivity face profound limitations. While qualitative research often assumes egalitarian co-production of knowledge with participants, studying actors who oppose progressive values – such as gender equality and minority rights – complicates this dynamic. Thus, I offer a critique of the ethical principles of reflexivity and democratization of research, addressing the challenge of studying individuals and groups that oppose progressive values, such as equality, minority rights, and ideological pluralism. I focus on the question of power and privilege, stressing the need to discuss the boundaries of democratic dialogue in contemporary academia and broader societies. I ask: what should be our guiding ethical principles in our public and private interactions with people who are both our interviewees and political adversaries? How can we engage with actors, who may simultaneously attack academia, denounce the validity of our work, and use our research for their own purposes? In my contribution, I discuss vignettes from my own research on anti-gender movement, which I conducted between 2014 and 2025. I introduce the concept of ‘averse co-production’, highlighting how researchers inadvertently co-produce knowledge in relation with these movements through media engagement, public debates, and even through responding to or trying to avoid legal threats.
