Democratic Resistance in the Circle of Corporate Distrust, Gender Policies and Economic Inequality

The increasing anti-gender mobilisations in Europe and globally in recent years are not only a reaction to feminist movements and gender equality policies but also a symptom of distrust in democratic institutions. This study aims to examine how institutional distrust can be used both as a threat that weakens democratic legitimacy and as an opportunity for democratic renewal. In other words, the article discusses strategies for strengthening democracies and combating anti-gender movements by analyzing the dual dynamic between "the use of institutional distrust" and "resistance to institutional distrust." The study is structured around three main research questions: (1) How do anti-feminist and anti-gender movements produce and politically instrumentalise a sense of institutional distrust? (2) How can democratic institutions transform this distrust into a mechanism that increases social participation rather than a crisis of legitimacy? (3) How can rebuild trust be combined with gender equality policies? To answer these questions, the study will analyze the rising anti-gender discourses in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries through case studies, specifically examining the construction of institutional distrust through media narratives, legal regulations, and political discourse practices in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. The data will be evaluated using qualitative discourse analysis and framing analysis methods. The findings show that anti-gender mobilizations are positioned not only "against women's rights," but also as a struggle "for the redefinition of modern democratic values." In this context, strengthening the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in democratic institutions can transform distrust into a catalyst for democratic debate and participation rather than suppressing it. The article will specifically discuss the role of "transformative mediation" that feminist institutions and civil society actors can play in this process. In conclusion, the study suggests that institutional distrust can not only be an indicator of crisis but also a driving force for democratic renewal. In this context, it emphasizes that the strategies to be developed against anti-gender mobilizations must be based not only on discourse but also on structural and participatory foundations.