From confrontation to avoidance: feminist responses to anti-gender mobilization in Spain

Abstract

Since the turn of the millennium, feminist and anti-gender movements have played a fundamental role in the Spanish political process, particularly in relation to gender policies such as LGBT+ rights, sexual and reproductive rights, and gender-based violence. This chapter examines feminist responses to the various waves of anti-gender mobilization in the country. These responses have taken multiple forms, ranging from the organization of large street demonstrations—sometimes coordinated at the national level with other movements—to more immediate and localized actions aimed at disrupting anti-gender events and publicly calling out those who support the curtailment of rights. Alongside these protests, feminist activists have also engaged in media and cultural campaigns designed to disseminate information, preserve the collective memory of the movement, and counter anti-gender narratives. More recently, some activists have sought to disempower and delegitimize anti-gender actors through strategic silence, aiming to divert media and public attention away from them. This chapter highlights how feminist responses to anti-gender mobilization have evolved over time in a dynamic interplay of movement and counter-movement, adapting to shifting contexts and depending significantly on the role of state institutions.