The framing of Europe in “anti-gender” campaign narratives: Between “Europe as a threat” and “saving Europe”

Gender and sexuality were among the most contested social and political categories of the early 21st century. In this “contentious politics of gender,” feminist and LGBTQ+ movements—and their allies—clashed with “anti-gender” movements and their supporters, with narratives playing a central role on both sides. Among these narratives, “Europe” has been a key geopolitical reference. Feminist and LGBTQ+ activists have often appealed to “Europeanisation” to pressure governments to adopt pro-equality laws and policies. In response, opponents have countered by portraying “Europe as a threat” to local traditions and religious values, which are presumed to cherish heteropatriarchal relations. This paper, through a qualitative meta-synthesis of existing literature on anti-gender campaigns, identifies that this is only one of two dominant narratives. The second, seemingly contradictory, is that of a “Europe that needs to be saved” by promoting ambiguous “traditional values.” In this narrative, the focus on the traditional nuclear family is used to oppose gender and sexual equality, often through the language of rights rather than explicit opposition. Both narratives reflect broader populist and nationalist frames that challenge liberal democratic norms, including secularism, non-discrimination, minority protection, and gender equality.