New Books in Political Science How Authoritarians Exploit Gender
Mar 25, 2026
Pär Zetterberg, a scholar of elections and representation, and Elin Bjarnegård, an expert on gender, violence, and authoritarianism, discuss how autocrats mix anti-gender rhetoric with token promotion of loyal women. They explain the tactics of gender bashing and gender washing. The conversation covers strategic motives, regional case studies, and the dilemmas activists face when engaging with authoritarian reforms.
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Double Strategy Of Gender Washing And Gender Bashing
- Authoritarians use a double strategy of gender washing and gender bashing to manage reputation and control.
- Elin Bjarnegård explains gender washing masks authoritarianism by promoting loyal women, while gender bashing attacks 'gender ideology' to justify rollbacks.
Different Tactics Serve Different Audiences
- Gender washing means adopting equality reforms to appear modern while hiding repression; gender bashing means publicly attacking gender norms to signal tradition.
- Pär Zetterberg notes regimes can pursue both simultaneously, tailoring approaches by issue or audience.
Protection Rhetoric Can Hide Restrictive Gender Ideology
- Rhetorical protection of women and policies like opposing abortion can come from the same patriarchal ideology but also be used flexibly.
- Nick Cheeseman and Elin Bjarnegård discuss how protectionist rhetoric (e.g., Hungary, Russia) both mobilizes support and masks restrictive gender roles.