Who's Afraid of Gender?

Judith Butler's Who's Afraid of Gender? investigates the global phenomenon where the concept of "gender" has become a central target for emerging authoritarian movements and reactionary politics. The book explores how "gender" is transformed into a "phantasm," a collective projection of anxieties and fears that are then weaponized to mobilize an "anti-gender ideology movement" across various political and religious spheres.

This analysis reveals how these movements seek to undermine reproductive justice, erode protections against sexual and gender violence, and strip trans and queer individuals of their rights. Butler illuminates the concrete ways this "phantasm of gender" fuels aggressive nationalism and leaves millions vulnerable to subjugation. The work serves as an intervention, advocating for solidarity among those whose struggles for equality are linked to fighting injustice, offering a framework to understand and resist these contemporary political forces.