Transnational Politics of Anti-Gender Mobilizations

Executive Order (The White House 2025) mandating the replacement of the concept of 'gender' with that of 'sex' in federal governance and policymaking.This directive, which characterizes gender as an ideologically driven construct while disregarding the pervasive social norms and stereotypes that structure gendered experiences and roles, represents yet another chapter in the wider transnational field of anti-gender politics.As scholars have shown, the past decade has witnessed a growing mobilization against the perceived threat of 'gender ideology' or 'gender theory,' particularly across Europe.Anti-gender politics has manifested through localized campaigns opposing same-sex marriage, the rights of trans individuals, women's reproductive autonomy, and even the conceptual legitimacy of gender itself (Kovts & Pim 2015; Kuhar & Paternotte 2017; Paternotte 2023).In countries such as Hungary and Poland, rightwing populist politicians have emerged as key proponents of these agendas (Kovts 2020; Graff and Korolczuk 2022).Conversely, in other contexts, such as France, Croatia, and, until recently, the United States, anti-gender mobilizations have often originated from grassroots initiatives, which have formed complex and at times uneasy alliances with mainstream political actors (Buss & Herman 2003; Fassin 2016; Kahlina 2020; Mser 2020).At the same time, scholars have highlighted the striking similarities in discursive strategies and modes of action observable across diverse national contexts, underscoring the transnational dimensions of anti-gender mobilizations (Korolczuk & Graff 2018; Kuhar & Paternotte 2017; Norocel & Paternotte 2023).Building on the studies that demonstrate the transnational character of anti-gender politics, this issue aims to advance our understanding of these mobilizations as a transnational phenomenon by introducing cases that show how the shared discourses and arguments are re-described and adapted within specific socio-political contexts.