Who’s Afraid of Gender?

In this work, Judith Butler examines the rise of "anti-gender ideology" as a global political strategy used by authoritarian movements and religious conservatives. Butler identifies how gender is weaponized as a "phantom" threat to justify the dismantling of reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and inclusive education. The text maps the alliances between various political factions that frame gender studies and trans identity as existential dangers to the traditional family and national sovereignty. By analyzing specific legislative trends and rhetoric, Butler argues that these movements use fear to consolidate state power and distract from systemic economic failures.

This book serves researchers and activists tracking the intersection of cultural backlash and far-right politics. Readers seeking to understand the tactical use of moral panics in modern governance will find a structural analysis of how social anxieties are manufactured. The audience walks away with a framework for identifying the rhetoric used in contemporary legislation and an argument for coalition-building across different marginalized groups. It provides a look at the historical and political forces currently shaping the legal status of bodily autonomy across the globe.