Adrianna Zabrzewska and Roberto Kulpa show that, despite populism's hostile political climate, limited funding, and tensions within the community, the pursuit of a liveable and joyful life for LGBTIQ+ individuals and cishet women in Poland is an unfolding project of resilience and resistance
‘Anti-gender’ mobilisations have sparked academic debates for decades. We’ve seen how gender and sexual identity become pawns in political games for populists and nationalists. Autocratic leaders weaponise these issues to erode democracy and rally support through fearmongering. Such leaders frame gender identity as an ‘excessive ideology’ imposed on ‘unwilling populations’. While the political right is the primary culprit, we’ve also seen patriarchal attitudes infiltrating left-wing populism, threatening hard-won equalities.
Our research bears witness to the challenges faced by queer and feminist communities in Poland. Simultaneously, it reveals a vibrant counter-narrative of belonging and friendship. For the RESIST Project's case study on Poland, we conducted focus groups and interviews that captured the lived experiences of diverse groups of people, including activists, educators, journalists, and public intellectuals. All shared pro-LGBTIQ+ and pro-feminist views. Here, we seek to amplify their voices, and showcase their resilience in the face of adversity.
The RESIST Project works across nine case studies: Ireland, Spain, Belarus, France, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Greece, and exile. As in other non-Anglophone contexts of the Project, the term ‘anti-gender’ was largely unfamiliar to participants in Poland. Indeed, interviewees saw it as an umbrella term that masks various forms of oppression. Instead of ‘anti-gender’, participants spoke of patriarchy, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, anti-EU and anti-liberal attitudes, antisemitism, ableism, and broader anti-leftist views.
Participants noted how ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations contribute to social polarisation. Magda observed:
Anti-gender, for me, is an ideological offensive and this ideological offensive is happening in many countries; […] all these various moral panics about imaginary threats to society, which, in my opinion, serve to divide and polarise society. And a polarised society is better governed, easier to manage.
Magda, RESIST Project Participant
Most people didn’t use the term ‘anti-gender’ in their daily lives. They saw it as a concept relevant to policy-making, research, or media discussions. This disconnect serves as a reminder for researchers to consider using language that reflects the realities of those directly affected. Engaging with participants’ perspectives can enhance the relevance and impact of our work.
Participants shared their experiences of attacks, intimidation, online bullying, hate speech, institutional discrimination, and restrictions on academic freedoms. Activist burnout, exacerbated by a lack of state support, was a common theme. Many viewed burnout as an unavoidable aspect of activist engagement, often speaking of ‘chronic fatigue’ and ‘permanent tiredness’.
In response to negative experiences, participants emphasised the importance of love, care, friendship, and respite. Magda described queer-feminist resistance as ‘a teaming up of all these people who are in this besieged fortress’. Another participant, reflecting on a local LGBTIQ+ community space, said:
we often share our experiences […] But we also discuss lighter topics. For example, we had a food-themed gathering, where we exchanged recipes, restaurant recommendations, and other things. I can see that those who organise and participate in these events aim to create a space that goes beyond difficult experiences. They focus on building relationships through shared time and relaxation. It’s truly restorative.
POLINT4, RESIST Project Participant
These words highlight how community and belonging become cherished experiences, helping people navigate hostile sociopolitical landscapes.
Forging alliances, however, is not without its challenges. Members of queer and feminist movements also experienced the polarisation caused by ‘anti-gender’ politics. They told us it provoked feelings of sadness, fear, disgust, and anger. It sparked baffled curiosity about transphobic and sex-work exclusionary voices coming from within the community.
One participant expressed surprise and anger at discovering that their former role models were transphobic. Another participant had been:
...increasingly observing with horror how in my own community, that is, the feminist one, there arise such internal, community policies, transphobic […] policies, actions, attitudes, social positions directed against, for example, sex workers. […] I observe how patriarchy enters our own heads and divides our own broadly defined women’s movements.
Ania, RESIST Project Participant
Other divisions discussed included generational differences and double standards in the intersectional inclusion of multiple marginalised individuals. Renata called out the ‘normalisation of discrimination and violence against people with disabilities.’ She observed:
Every Pride so far has had an after-party at a venue that was inaccessible to us. It’s giving the message ‘don't come, we don't want you here.’ […] See, if you are a person with a disability who has a need, has a strong need to belong. All of us want to belong.
Renata, RESIST Project Participant
Participants affected by ‘anti-gender’ politics often face intersecting oppressions. They frequently feel the need to deprioritise gender and sexuality to address other challenges, such as disability. This forced necessity leads to frustration and discomfort, creating false hierarchies of importance.
Our participants’ experiences highlight the resilience of queer and feminist movements. Coping strategies included building supportive relationships and fostering mutual aid. Participants also used social, financial, and cultural resources to counter institutional bureaucracies, and support human-centric work.
Amid the challenges, people found a silver lining: unintended effects of ‘anti-gender’ mobilisations on Polish society. Occasionally, ill-intended strategies produced side effects that benefited queer and feminist movements. These included stronger civic engagement, self-organisation, and a heightened sense of community. LGBTIQ+ topics gained visibility in mainstream media, along with growing allyship from public figures:
when I think about how there was a big demonstration in August [2020] after the arrest of [Małgorzata 'Margot' Szutowicz], somehow I can also see the effects of [‘anti-gender’ politics], that more people understood what police violence is about, that these are the kinds of things that are starting to become a mainstream issue.
Malina, RESIST Project Participant
Participants noted a rise in cross-societal support for feminist and LGBTIQ+ causes, despite the hateful attacks from ‘anti-gender’ actors. This emerging landscape of support and allyship inspires optimism, suggesting that continued advocacy and collaboration can foster a more inclusive and equitable future.
RESIST: Fostering Queer Feminist Intersectional Resistances against Transnational Anti-Gender Politics is funded by European Union grant ID 101060749 and Swiss and British research agencies. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the researchers only and do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions funding the research.
No.28 in a Loop thread on Gendering Democracy. Look out for the 🌈 to read more in this series
