Despite the plethora of engagements with ‘anti-gender’ and heteroactivism, there is little geographical engagement beyond the trans/national. This lecture brings two seemingly incompatible studies together: RESIST explores anti-gender mobilisations and feminist/queer resistances across Europe using interviews and focus groups, focusing on the Irish case study; Beyond Opposition interviewed 161 people opposed to, or concerned about, socio-legal changes including same-sex marriage, gender recognition and abortion in Ireland, Great Britain and Canada. These studies show that the creation of controversies is core to driving divisions through polarising issues into oppositional binaries that can negatively affect all sides differently. These can drive resistances that reiterate binaries and reinforce polarisations. Looking beyond ‘winning the argument/fight/debate’ requires understanding everyday spaces to address social polarisations.

Online participation is possible upon registration.