EU Researchers Combat Pushback Against Gender Equality in Politics and Society

EU Researchers Combat Pushback Against Gender Equality in Politics and Society 1024 512 Open and Universal Science (OPUS) Project

26 September 2024
By Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro

Recent EU-funded research is shedding light on the growing resistance to gender equality initiatives. This project seeks to understand the motivations behind this pushback and its societal impact, offering practical solutions to counter these challenges.

The Fight for Equality and Democracy

For Professor Zoe Lefkofridi, a leading scholar in politics and gender at the University of Salzburg, democracy and gender equality are inseparable. “There can be no true democracy without gender equality,” she argues. Despite notable progress in Europe, recent trends signal a worrying resurgence of opposition to these advancements.

“The EU has long been a champion of women’s rights, especially in the workforce,” Lefkofridi explains. “But we’re witnessing concerning developments in certain EU countries, as well as in the US.”

Lefkofridi leads PushBackLash, an EU-backed initiative launched in 2023. The project aims to delve deep into the motivations, strategies, and tactics of those opposing gender equality, while also gauging public sentiment on the issue.

Analyzing the Backlash

Team member Dr. Vera Beloshitzkaya, a gender and politics expert, highlights how anti-feminist narratives are becoming more mainstream in political discourse. “We’re seeing this backlash not just in rhetoric, but in resistance to policies that promote inclusivity,” she notes. However, to understand the extent of the pushback, Beloshitzkaya stresses the need to track where society stood before, where it is now, and what the future holds.

“It’s not enough to simply study the problem,” Lefkofridi adds. “We must act to change it.”

A Cross-European Approach

PushBackLash brings together a team of researchers from Austria, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, as well as NGOs from Belgium and Poland. Their work aims to assess how anti-equality campaigns are shaping public opinion and policy, and to propose strategies to counter these movements.

Beloshitzkaya’s commitment to the project is deeply personal. Raised in Belarus, she grew up in a society where authoritarianism has been on the rise since the 1990s. Her critical thinking skills were honed through grassroots activism and the establishment of debate clubs in schools.

Beloshitzkaya is clear on the distinction between legitimate policy debate and opinions that undermine pluralism and equality. She points to some political rhetoric, such as claims that “women need to return to the home,” as clear examples of backlash against women’s progress in the labor market.

Persistent Inequalities

Despite the progress made, women continue to be underrepresented in key positions of power across the EU. A 2023 report from the European Institute for Gender Equality revealed that women held only 33% of seats in the European Parliament, and just 34% of government minister roles.

The PushBackLash team is also investigating how different forms of inequality overlap to create barriers. For instance, early findings show that while acceptance of women in leadership roles has improved, there remains significant discomfort with LGBTQI+ individuals in positions of power. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted traditional gender roles, with women disproportionately taking on additional childcare responsibilities, particularly in countries like Austria.

Driving Change

Lefkofridi’s passion for democracy and equality stems from her family’s history. Her parents were active in the resistance against Greece’s military dictatorship from 1967 to 1974, enduring imprisonment and torture for their beliefs.

“Democracy is one of the highest values to me, something worth dying for,” she says.

Her team goes beyond data collection, working closely with policymakers and activists to foster change. They aim to develop evidence-based strategies that challenge anti-equality rhetoric and drive lasting reforms.

The team has already identified best practices from various EU organizations and governments, such as supporting female entrepreneurship, investing in girls’ education, and increasing funding for women’s advocacy groups.

Raising Awareness

In addition to traditional research methods, PushBackLash is exploring creative ways to raise awareness. They’ve launched a series of comic strips to highlight key issues and are using theatrical roleplay in universities to engage younger audiences in the fight for gender equality.

“Our goal is to ensure that activism is not just driven by passion but supported by solid evidence,” says Lefkofridi. “The reason these issues often remain in echo chambers is that ideas lack evidence. As social scientists and feminists, we must build and assess this evidence.”

Through their work, PushBackLash aims to reinforce gender equality policies and ensure that the fight for equality remains grounded in data and research.

Original article can be found here.

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