The political struggle between feminists and anti-feminists over gender equality norms and policies

Abstract

This workshop will focus on historical and present challenges to international gender equality norms. The present situation is full of contradictions. There is a growing number of “anti-gender“ campaigns by right wing parties and movements. Yet, at the same time, feminist movements are flourishing, as exemplified by #MToo, the globally most widespread women’s movement in history. Backlash is met by strong feminist mobilizations as recently in Poland, Argentina, and South Korea. In general, ‘Gender’ is unprecedently high on the international political agenda. Consequently, we see a growing polarization between feminists and anti-feminists, both fighting to influence mainstream politics. During the last three decades, women’s rights and gender equality as a norm were inscribed in declarations at global and regional levels. Most national constitutions today include articles on gender equality. Monitoring mechanisms at the global (CEDAW Committee) as well as regional level demand action plans and reports about implementation and effects. In individual countries, feminist organizations will demand national actions by referring to the international gender equality norms, which their government signed, often with mixed motives. Yet, UN-Women decided to abstain from arranging a Beijing+25 World Conference on Women, fearing a backlash against the relatively progressive Platform for Action from 1995, e.g. against the normative statement that equal inclusion of women in political and economic decision-making is as a prerequisite for full democracy. What is the feminist response? This workshop invites papers on present and past struggles over women’s rights and gender equality norms in international organizations, regional organizations (e.g. AU, OAO, ASEAN, EU) and in individual countries. Comparative studies as well as single country studies are welcome, as are papers focusing on a single policy issue (abortion, gender quotas, violence against women, Women, Peace, and Security, HBTQ++ issues, gender and climate change etc.).

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