The RESIST Project (European Union grant ID 101060749) investigates the impact of ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations—those that uphold patriarchy, heteronormativity, xenophobia, racism, and ableism—on lives across Europe.

We perceive ‘anti-gender’ as a complex phenomenon that manifests itself in various ways across different national contexts. ‘Anti-gender’ movements span the political spectrum, encompassing centrist, left-wing, and right-wing ideologies, and can be found in both illiberal and authoritarian regimes, as well as in those considered liberal and democratic.

‘Anti-gender’ actors restrict gender and sexual equality, challenge trans* and sex work inclusion, question multiculturalism, undermine critical studies of race, and limit academic freedoms. In our research, we explore how communities, organisations, and policymakers can counter ‘anti-gender’ politics to foster a more inclusive and diverse society.

Research findings

Initially, RESIST focused on understanding the formation and tactics of ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations. We analysed nearly 200 parliamentary debates and thousands of articles from 87 media sources, engaging with the ideas and interventions of numerous political and cultural actors in Poland, Hungary, the UK, Switzerland, and the European Parliament. This analysis revealed recurring ideologies and strategies, forming a basis for our subsequent work.

The findings from this phase have been documented in National and Transnational Reports on the Formation of Anti-Gender Politics and a 30-page research summary Anti-Gender Tactics in Europe.

We then shifted our attention to those adversely affected by ‘anti-gender’. Through interviews and focus groups with over 250 people in nine case studies—Belarus, Poland, Ireland, Spain (Catalonia and Basque Country), Greece, Germany, Switzerland, France, and among exiled individuals across Europe—we captured the lived experiences of those impacted by ‘anti-gender’ politics, including their strategies of queer and feminist resistance.

The results are compiled in the following reports:

• Effects of, and Resistances to 'Anti-Gender' Mobilisations Across Europe: A Report on Nine Case Studies
• Effects of, and Resistances to 'Anti-Gender' Mobilisations Across Europe: A Report on Transnational Findings

You can access individual case study reports in both English and national languages by browsing the RESIST Project’s Zenodo repository.

In the third stage of the RESIST project, we collaborated with 40 queer, trans, feminist, and sex work organisations across Europe to establish a transnational intersectional network. While this stage has been confidential, its findings will inform the fourth stage, where we will develop toolkits to address anti-democratic threats related to ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations.

Visit the RESIST Project’s website to learn more and access our resources and outputs.