First keynote is Elżbieta Korolczuk on opposition to gender in academia and beyond. Looking forward to this. #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Korolczuk, a sociologist, says that she thought resistance to gender was only a local (Polish) thing, but through talking to colleagues, found that it is also international. #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Right-wing populism in itself is not new. However, what *is* new is that gender and gender issues (e.g. sexual and reproductive rights, and family) are coming under attack (often through the narrative of threatening a white majority/population). Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Korolczuk is often asked how anyone can oppose gender, given that it is a construct. But gender exists.
There are also anti-gender movements: transnational, rich, professional, well connected, and ideologically affiliated with right-wing extremism/populism. #kjønnsforskningNÅ

These anti-gender movements produce reports, write proposals (e.g. to ban abortion even where it is already banned), launch harassment campaigns, and so on. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

These anti-gender movements often have ties to organised religions (including conservative Christians of all stripes), but present themselves as part of secular society. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

They challenge freedom of choice (particularly in sexuality, family, and reproduction). They stage themselves and being against a 'sexual revolution'. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Their engagement with the ultra-conservative agenda has been gradual: percentage of support in e.g. elections increase over time. It's almost unnoticed against all the other right wing sh*t out there. (NB that's my summary, not the speaker's words.) Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

The World Congress of Families in Verona 2019 would have won a manel award - a white manel, obviously. See also the ultra-conservative anti-feminist platform Citizen Go, which has 27 countries/languages, and 10 million activists. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Oh and we mustn't forget the ultra-nationalist party Vox in Spain, and their connections to other countries (e.g. Hungary, Russia) and conservative religious figures (e.g. the Archbishop of Verona, from whose actions the Vatican has distanced itself). Korolczuk #kjønnsforskningNÅ

So the goal might be 'to defend families and children', but the agendas behind these movements are in fact far more sinister. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Hungary is an obvious case of how this is seeping into academia, where gender studies has been banned at two universities and gender work is no longer eligible for funding. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Then their were the violent protests against Judith Butler in Sao Paulo, when she attended not a gender meeting, but a pro-democracy meeting - a clear sign of the joining of forces. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Sweden is a less obvious example, but the Sweden Democrats are just as bad - if more subtle - in their rhetoric. It is no accident that their spokesman Robert Stenkvist has spoken out against racism and gender research. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Stenkvist compares gender and racism research to hard-line religion, claiming that it is not allowed to speak out against it or its findings. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Poland tried to ban sex education from schools; however, there is nothing really to ban. However, like the gay ban in Russia, it endangers people who work against discrimination in education, who could soon face jail sentences. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

So these international examples show that while the narratives and contexts may change across national boundaries, the underlying ideology and the rhetorical techniques do not. This is an international network with funding and contacts. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

There is a clear strategy to label gender studies (or race studies, and others) as 'activism' rather than 'research', as ideological rather than objective. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

The charge is that gender (and other) researchers are 'at war' with the family, the church, the state (etc), and are a threat to these *and* to empirical research through their takeover of universities. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

This is even the case in Germany, where only 0.4% of all professorships are in gender studies. (Takeover indeed.) Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

On top of all this, they then attack gender studies as not producing enough high-impact-factor work, and thus as poor value for money and not respected in the research world. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

This all creates a vicious circle. Knowledge is produced regarding discrimination and equality, it is not acted upon, then gender (and other) depts are closed / researchers fired / etc for not being productive enough. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ

Anti-genderism (like its equivalents in race) seeks to be recognised as a coherent worldview, an area of expertise, and a product of research with every right to be part of a university. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ
This will sound familiar to everyone on #medievaltwitter

These anti-gender / post-racism movements strategically use the language of human rights, but twist it to their own ends. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ
(I want to call in a linguist here; @VeronikaKoller springs to mind.)

Campaigns against 'gender ideology' is thus a new phase of struggles around politics of expertise and knowledge, including scientific authority, experts, and the relationships between academics, politicians, the media, and the public. Korolczuk, #kjønnsforskningNÅ