Critical Analysis of the Anti-Feminist Rhetoric of Two Far-Right Youtubers

Anti-feminism manifests itself through political discourse and practices aimed at thwarting the emancipatory advances of feminism. These discourses take many forms, and anti-feminist movements are structured into various more or less contemporary branches, such as masculinism. Social networks provide fertile ground for these ideologies to spread, particularly via public figures and influencers. This research focuses on two emblematic figures of this movement in France, originally from extreme right-wing circles, Julien Rochedy, former director of the Front National de la Jeunesse, and Thaïs D'Escufon, former spokesperson for Génération Identitaire. Using critical discourse analysis, we examine the rhetorical structuring of anti-feminist discourse in the videos of these two youtubers. More specifically, we question the presence of four theoretical axes identified by the literature devoted to the study of antifeminism: 1) the questioning of women's sexual autonomy, 2) gender dualism, 3) traditionalism and 4) the irrevocability of feminism. Critical analysis of the discourses will enable us to identify and deconstruct the ideologies, values and social representations conveyed by the discourses. We will also assess the specific features of the discourses of Julien Rochedy and Thaïs D'Escufon in order to understand how these discourses are structured and why they are mobilised by these individuals, in other words, what strategies they use.