A New Wave Of Separation: How the Increased Strength of Populists Endangers Women's Rights

Oct 23

In recent years, a resurgent tide of populism has swept across North America and Europe, bringing to the forefront political movements and figures that champion nationalist agendas. While these movements allegedly tap into a broader discontentment with globalization, liberal values, and established political elites, they also bring a set of regressive policies that could imperil women's rights. This new wave of populist enthusiasm threatens to dismantle women's gains over the decades and could reverse hard-fought battles for equality.

A Backlash Against Progressive Values

At the heart of the populist agenda is a deep-seated discontentment with what they see as a wave of liberal, cosmopolitan values that have replaced and changed obsolete national identities and traditional values. For many, the fight for women's rights is often viewed as part and parcel of this more significant "threat."

In Europe, countries like Poland and Hungary have seen populist governments introduce or reinforce policies that restrict women's reproductive rights. For instance, in 2020, Poland's Constitutional Tribunal ruled that abortions in cases of congenital disabilities were unconstitutional, leading to near-total bans on the procedure. Under Viktor Orbán, Hungary has pushed for pro-family policies that, while supportive of childbearing, have implications for women's autonomy and career choices.

In the United States, state-level legislative bodies, bolstered by populist sentiments, have continuously pushed for stringent abortion laws, hoping that federal courts will eventually overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

Weaponizing Women's Bodies

Populist movements often weaponize women's bodies as battlegrounds. The narrative of protecting "native" populations against declining birth rates and external influences often places undue burdens on women. This approach sees women's primary value as child-bearers and caregivers, undermining their broader societal contributions and autonomy.

Eroding Institutional Support

Another alarming trend is the erosion of institutional support for women's rights. Populist leaders, in their bid to consolidate power, often sideline institutions that check their authority. This includes bodies that have historically been supportive of women's rights. For instance, defunding or delegating rights organizations is a common tactic.

Weidel and Meloni at the Helm of the Populist Movements in Europe

Alice Weidel and the AfD in Germany

The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) emerged in 2013, initially as a response to the Eurozone crisis, but quickly pivoted towards anti-immigrant sentiments, especially in light of the 2015 refugee crisis. Alice Weidel, one of the party's leading figures, stands out not just for her sharp rhetoric against the so-called "Islamization" of Germany but also for the personal contradictions she embodies.

The AfD has often been criticized for its anti-LGBTQ stances, however, Weidel's identity as an openly lesbian woman presents a stark juxtaposition to her supporters to disempower such criticism. This tension reached a head when Weidel remarked in a recent interview, "I am not queer; I am married to a woman that I've known for 20 years." Such statements, combined with her position in the party, suggest that Weidel's identity might be strategically leveraged to provide the AfD with a shield against accusations of homophobia and misogyny.

The precise alignment of her personal life with a party that frequently opposes LGBTQ+ rights and champions regressive gender norms highlights the lengths political movements might go to deflect criticism. Weidel's role in the AfD serves as a sobering reminder of the complexities and sometimes cynical manipulations of identity politics within the landscape of populist movements in the modern age.

Giorgia Meloni and Italy's Fratelli d'Italia

Italy has its share of weird political characters, and Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia), is one of them. Rising from the post-fascist political environment, Meloni's party champions a nationalist agenda, often fused with a conservative stance on social issues.

Under Meloni's leadership, the party has vocally opposed progressive policies on women's rights, especially reproductive health and LGBTQ+ rights. The Brothers of Italy view the traditional family unit as the bedrock of Italian society and are wary of policies they believe might undermine it. Meloni herself has been a vocal critic of what she terms 'gender ideology' and has been skeptical of mainstream feminist movements. An obscure position, considering that Meloni herself would not be seen a good fit for her job under her own ideology, in which she should be a homemaker, rather than a politician.

Challenges Ahead, But Hope on the Horizon

The rise of populism and its threat to women's rights is a clarion call to all proponents of equality and justice. While it's essential to understand the broader societal issues that have led to the ascent of these movements, it's equally crucial to rally against policies that undermine half the world's population. As history has shown, rights, once lost, are challenging to regain.

Yet, amidst the rising tide of populism, there are glimmers of hope. For instance, in Poland, a country that witnessed some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, the political landscape is shifting. The ruling party, Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (Law and Justice), which had been at the forefront of these regressive policies, recently lost its absolute majority in the parliament. This development might pave the way for more balanced, centrist coalitions that could reconsider some of the more stringent policies implemented in the past.

Such shifts, while small, serve as a reminder that the political landscape is dynamic. People's voices and collective actions have the power to change the direction of their countries. As societies evolve and the younger generation makes its voice heard, there's hope that the rights of all individuals, including women, will be firmly upheld and championed. The time to act and safeguard progress is now, and every victory, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction.

Carina Dietze