2004
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Tijdschrift voor Genderstudies
  4. Volume 27, Issue 4
  5. Article
Volume 27, Issue 4
  • ISSN: 1388-3186
  • E-ISSN: 2352-2437
file format pdf download PDF

Abstract

Abstract

Anti-gender mobilisations are widely studied in Europe showing a rise in violence against women, LGBTQ+ persons and racialised people. Belgium, however, is often overlooked in this body of research. Previous studies on the Belgian case focused mainly on Catholic resistance against abortion as well as LGBTQ+ rights and identities, concluding that anti-gender mobilizations have not been influential. This paper intends to expand this knowledge by turning the lens on more recent mobilisations in Belgian public debates. It shows that abortion is no longer a central issue in resistances against gender equality. Instead, I will argue that currently transgender issues are central to anti-gender activism. By focussing on an aetiology of trans identities and gender dysphoria, anti-trans actors aim to restrict access to gender-affirming health care. Furthermore, these anti-trans mobilizations not limited to religious inspirations but are now (re)produced by a wide array of actors including humanists, academics, doctors, and politicians.

© Rylan Verlooy
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.5117/TVGN2024.4.004.VERL
2024-12-01
2025-03-29
The full text of this item is not currently available.

References

  1. Ahmed, S. (2016). An Affinity of Hammers. Transgender Studies Quarterly, 3(1–2), 22–34. https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-3334151
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Bassi, S., & Lafleur, G. (2022). Introduction: TERFs, gender-critical movements, and postfascist feminisms. Transgender Studies Quarterly, 9(3), 311–333. doi: 10.1215/23289252-9836008
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Billard, T. J. (2023). ‘Gender-Critical’ Discourse as Disinformation: Unpacking TERF Strategies of Political Communication. Women’s Studies in Communication, 46(2), 235–243. doi: 10.1080/07491409.2023.2193545
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Bracke, S. (2023, March1). Een spook zonder vaste vorm. De Groene Amsterdammer, 9. Retrieved from: https://www.groene.nl/artikel/een-spook-zonder-vaste-vorm.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Bracke, S., Dupont, W., & Paternotte, D. (2017). ‘No prophet is accepted in his own country’: Catholic anti-gender activism in Belgium. In R.Kuhar & D.Paternotte (Eds.), Anti-gender campaigns in Europe: Mobilizing against equality (pp. 41–58). London: Rowman & Littlefield International, Ltd.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Burgwal, A., Van Wiele, J., & Motmans, J. (2023). Genoeg Enough Assez: Onderzoek naar de ervaringen met geweld van LGBTQI-personen in Vlaanderen. Transgender Infopunt & Centrum voor Seksuologie en Gender – UZ Gent. Retrieved from: https://www.vlaanderen.be/publicaties/genoeg-enough-assez-onderzoek-naar-de-ervaringen-met-geweld-van-lgbti-personen-in-vlaanderen.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Butler, J. (2024). Who’s afraid of gender?London: Allen Lane.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Cabral Grinspan, M., Eloit, I., Paternotte, D., & Verloo, M. (2023). Exploring TERF-ness: DiGeSt Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, 10(2), 1–13. doi: 10.21825/digest.90008
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Cammaerts, B. (2022). The abnormalisation of social justice: The ‘anti-woke culture war’ discourse in the UK. Discourse & Society, 33(6), 730–743. doi: 10.1177/09579265221095407
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Case, M. A. (2019). Trans Formations in the Vatican’s War on ‘Gender Ideology’. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 44(3), 639–664. doi: 10.1086/701498
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Celis, K., & Coene, G. (2015). Nog altijd een vrouwenrecht? Belgische voor- en tegenstanders van abortus25 jaar na de wet. Brood & Rozen, 4, 5–25. doi: 10.21825/br.v20i4.7947
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Coalition for the Advancement & Application of Psychological Science. (2021). CAAPS Position Statement on Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD). Retrieved from: https://www.caaps.co/rogd-statement
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Colella, D. (2021). Femonationalism and anti-gender backlash: The instrumental use of gender equality in the nationalist discourse of the Fratelli d’Italia party. Gender & Development, 29(2–3), 269–289. doi: 10.1080/13552074.2021.1978749
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Coleman, E., & et.al. (2022). Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. International Journal of Transgender Health, 23(1–258). doi:10.1080/26895269.2022.2100644
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Crosetti, A.-S. (2022). ‘Génération pro-vie’. Lutter contre l’avortement après les lois de dépénalisation. La Revue Nouvelle, 7(7), 15–20. doi: 10.3917/rn.225.0015
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Datta, N. (2021). Tip of the iceberg: Religious extrimist funders against human rights for sexuality and reproductive health in Europe. EPF for sexual and reproductive rights. Retrieved from: https://www.epfweb.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Tip%20of%20the%20Iceberg%20June%202021%20Final.pdf
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Davies, H. C., & MacRae, S. E. (2023). An Anatomy of the British war on Woke. Race & Class, 1–52. doi:10.1177/0306396823116490
     [Google Scholar]
  18. De Brueker, J. (2018). Sondage d’opinion sur l’interruption volontaire de grossesse en Belgique (D/2018/2731/2). Centre d’Action Laïque asbl. Retrieved from: https://www.laicite.be/app/uploads/2018/04/sondage-IVG-FR-avril-2018.pdf
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Dhoest, A. (2020). LGBTs In, Muslims Out: Homonationalist Discourses and Counterdiscourses in the Flemish Press. International Journal of Communication, 14, 155–175.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Dhoest, A., & Paulussen, S. (2024). The mediated construction of ‘woke’: Emerging discourses and primary definers in the Flemish press. Journalism. doi: 10.1177/14648849241260942
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Dickey, B., Spierings, N., & van Klingeren, M. (2022). Constructing homonationalist identities in relation to religious and LGBTQ+ outgroups: A case study of r/ RightWingLGBT. Identities, 29(4), 518–537. doi: 10.1080/1070289X.2022.2054568
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Dierckx, M., Meier, P., & Motmans, J. (2017). ‘Beyond the Box’: A Comprehensive Study of Sexist, Homophobic, and Transphobic Attitudes Among the Belgian Population. Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, 4(1), 5–34. doi: 10.11116/digest.4.1.1
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Eeckhout, B. (2016). Queer in Belgium: Ignorance, goodwill, compromise. In L.Downing & R.Gillett (Eds.), Queer in Europe (pp. 25–40). Surray: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Eeckhout, B., & Paternotte, D. (2011). A Paradise for LGBT Rights? The Paradox of Belgium. Journal of Homosexuality, 58(8), 1058–1084. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2011.598414
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Elster, M. (2022). Insidious Concern: Trans Panic and the Limits of Care. TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, 9(3), 407–424. doi: 10.1215/23289252-9836064
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Faye, S. (2022). The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice. London: Allen Lane.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Graff, A., & Korolczuk, E. (2022). Anti-Gender Politics in the Populist Moment. New York: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Gustin, A. (2022). The conservative gender politics of the far right: A discursive theoretical analysis of the case of Vlaams Belang [Paper presentation]. State of the Federation, Brussels. Retrieved from: https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/297940
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Heylen, K. (2019, June5). Vlaams Belang vraagt Dominiek Sneppe geen interviews meer te geven na heisa over holebi-uitspraken. VRTNWS. Retrieved from: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/06/05/dominique-sneppe-reageert-op-uitspraken-over-holebi-s/
     [Google Scholar]
  30. House, C. (2023). ‘I’m real, not you’: Roles and discourses of trans exclusionary women’s and feminist movements in anti-gender and right-wing populist politics. DiGeSt Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, 10(2), 15–32. doi: 10.21825/digest.85755
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Instituut voor de gelijkheid van vrouwen en mannen. (2019, 19June). Retrieved from https://igvm-iefh.belgium.be/nl/nieuws/grondwettelijk-hof-oordeelt-dat-transgenderwet-moet-worden-aangepast
  32. Kuhar, R., & Paternotte, D. (Eds.). (2017). Anti-Gender Campaigns in Europe: Mobilizing against Equality. London: Rowman & Littlefield.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Libby, C. (2022). Sympathy, fear, hate: Trans-exclusionary radical feminism and Evangelical Christianity. Transgender Studies Quarterly, 9(3), 425–442. doi: 10.1215/23289252-9836078
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Lombardo, E., Kantola, J., & Rubio-Marin, R. (2021). De-Democratization and Opposition to Gender Equality Politics in Europe. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, 28(3), 521–531. doi: 10.1093/sp/jxab030
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Madsen Evang, J. A. (2022). Is ‘gender ideology’ Western colonialism? Anti-gender rhetoric and the misappropriation of postcolonial language. Transgender Studies Quarterly, 9(3), 365–386. doi: 10.1215/23289252-9836036
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Marques-Pereira, B., & Pereira, S. (2014). Abortion in Belgium: A precarious right?International Journal of Gender Studies, 3(5), 225–244. doi: 10.15167/2279-5057/ag.2014.3.5.145
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Meier, P. (2012). From laggard to leader: Explaining the Belgian gender quotas and parity clause. West European Politics, 35(2), 362–379. doi: 10.1080/01402382.2011.648011
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Missiaen, J., & Seynaeve, H. (2016). Onderzoek naar het psychisch welzijn van Vlaamse holebi’s en/of transgender personen. Risico- en beschermende factoren in kaart gebracht voor lifetimeprevalentie van sucidepogingen (master’s thesis). Retrieved from: https://lib.ugent.be/nl/catalog/rug01:002273016
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Motmans, J., & Verschelden, G. (2020). De rechtspositie van transgender personen in België: Een multidisciplinaire analyse na de wetten van 25 juni 2017 en 18 juni 2018.Antwerpen: Insertia. Retrieved from: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8647052
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Nash, C. J., & Browne, K. (2020). Heteroactivism: Resisting lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans rights and equalites. London: Bloomsbury.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Paternotte, D., & Kuhar, R. (2018). Disentangling and Locating the ‘Global Right’: Anti-gender campaigns in Europe. Politics and Governance, 6(3), 6–19. doi: 10.17645/pag.v6i3.1557
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Pearce, R., Erikainen, S., & Vincent, B. (2020a). TERF wars: An introduction. The Sociological Review, 68(4), 677–698. doi: 10.1177/0038026120934713
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Pearce, R., Erikainen, S., & Vincent, B. (2020b). TERF Wars: An introduction. The Sociological ReviewMonographs, 68(4), 677–698. doi: 10.1177/0038026120934713
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Petö, A. (2015). Epilogue: ‘Anti-gender’ mobilisational discourse of conservative and far right parties as a challenge for progressive politics. In E.Kováts & M.Põim (Eds.), Gender as symbolic glue: The position and role of conservative and far right parties in the anti-gender mobilisations in Europe (126–131). Foundation for European Progressive Studies.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Puar, J. K. (2007). Terrorist Assemblages: Homonationalism in Queer Times. Durham: Duke University Press. doi: 10.1215/9780822390442
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Rahbari, L. (2021). When gender turns right: Racializing Islam and femonationalism in online political discourses in Belgium. Contemporary Politics, 27(1), 41–57. doi: 10.1080/13569775.2020.1813950
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Thurlow, C. (2022). From TERF to gender critical: A telling genealogy?Sexualities, 27(4), 962-978. doi: 10.1177/13634607221107827
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Tudor, A. (2021). Decolonizing trans/gender studies? Teaching gender, race, and sexuality in times of the rise of the global right. Transgender Studies Quarterly, 8(2), 238–256. doi: 10.1215/23289252-8890523
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Van berlaer, T. (2022, November30). Onvrede aan UAntwerpen bij lezingenreeks over trans personen. Knack. Retrieved from: https://www.knack.be/nieuws/belgie/onvrede-aan-uantwerpen-bij-lezingenreeks-over-trans-personen/?utm_medium=social_knack&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1669822369
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Verhoeven, E., Dhoest, A., & Paulussen, S. (2023). ‘No room for hate in our country’: Constructing the LGBTI-friendly nation in news discourses after the murder of a gay man in Belgium. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 1(26), 69–86. doi: 10.1177/13678779221131080
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Verloo, M., & Paternotte, D. (2018). The Feminist Project under Threat in Europe. Politics and Governance, 6(3), 1–5. doi: 10.17645/pag.v6i3.1736
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Verloo, M., & van der Vleuten, A. (2020). Trans* Politics: Current Challenges and Contstations Regarding Bodies, Recognition, and Trans* Organising. Politics and Governance, 8(3), 223–230. doi: 10.17645/pag.v8i3.3651
     [Google Scholar]
  53. Wielowiejski, P. (2020). Identitarian gays and threatening queers, or: How the far right constructs new chains of equivalence. In G.Dietze & J.Roth (Eds.), Right-wing populism and gender: European perspectives and beyond (pp. 135–146). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag. doi: 10.1515/9783839449806-008
     [Google Scholar]
  54. WPATH. (2018, September4). WPATH POSITION ON “Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD)”. Retrieved from: https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/Public%20Policies/2018/9_Sept/WPATH%20Position%20on%20Rapid-Onset%20Gender%20Dysphoria_9-4-2018.pdf
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.5117/TVGN2024.4.004.VERL
Loading
Anti-Gender Mobilizations and Transgender Rights
TvGend 27, 351 (2024); https://doi.org/10.5117/TVGN2024.4.004.VERL
/content/journals/10.5117/TVGN2024.4.004.VERL
/content/journals/10.5117/TVGN2024.4.004.VERL
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Keyword(s): anti-gender; anti-trans; LGBTQ+; transgender

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error