Gender mainstreaming and public opinion: misuse, polarization and anti-gender equality views

Vera Lomazzi and Isabella Crespi

Chapter 7 in Research Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming, 2026, pp 85-97 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Public opinion on gender equality is increasingly polarized, with risks ranging from limiting the potential of gender mainstreaming (GM) to the rise of anti-gender equality views. This chapter addresses three key issues. First, it examines how misunderstanding and misuse of GM can weaken its impact and foster resistance to gender equality policies. Second, drawing on Eurobarometer data, it analyzes how European citizens perceive gender equality as a core European Union value, with notable differences across countries, genders, and generations, with a focus on the growing polarization among younger generations. Third, it explores the spread of anti-gender equality views, both individual and collective, formal and informal. It pays particular attention to online phenomena like the manosphere, the Tradwife movement, and male influencers, which significantly influence public opinion, especially among young people. Finally, the chapter discusses the potential implications of these developments for gender mainstreaming and gender equality.

Keywords: Gender Mainstreaming; Public Opinion; Anti-gender Backlash; Polarization; Gender; Equality; Tokenism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035353415
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