@article{2026:ahrens:from_gende,
title = {From gender equality champion to anti-gender battleground? The European Parliament and the contestation of gender equality and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity},
year = {2026},
note = {The European Parliament’s (EP) image as supranational gender
equality and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity promoter is challenged by the
increase of anti-gender claims and positions. We discuss what specific
vulnerabilities and threats the EP’s strong position in these
matters currently experiences given the growing number of
conservative, radical right and populist parties in the EP. To that
end, we rely on the emerging international norm of a gender sensitive
parliament. We first extend this norm to comprise both gender equality
and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity to meet standards of equality and
inclusivity, but especially to acknowledge the fact that anti-gender
actors target LGBTQIA+ issues as much as progressive gender issues.
Subsequently, we analyze where along the four dimensions of a gender
and – in our case – LGBTQIA+ sensitive parliament the EP could be
vulnerable to anti-gender strategies exploiting institutional
procedures, rules and practices detrimental to its equality and
inclusivity commitments. Our findings highlight the fragility of much
of the EP’s gender equality and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity acquis, as well
as tensions between formal commitments and daily (informal) procedures
and practices. We conclude by outlining implications for prospects of
gender equal and LGBTQIA+ inclusive futures in the EU in the face of
anti-gender contestations.},
journal = {Culture, Practice & Europeanization},
pages = {9--32},
author = {Ahrens, Petra and Meier, Petra},
volume = {11},
number = {1}
}