ABSTRACT AND BIO

VIDEO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Please send the title of the talk and the name of the presenter in an email to hgv5008@psu.edu to request a private link.

On November 18, 2024, Dr. Elizabeth Pearson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London, offered a critical exploration of how gender, particularly masculinities, is deeply embedded in the processes of political radicalization and extremism in the UK.

One of the most compelling aspects of Dr. Pearson’s talk was her reframing of toxic masculinity within extremist movements. While the term is often used as a catch-all for harmful gender norms, Dr. Pearson argued that such framing can oversimplify the gendered motivations and actions of individuals within these groups. Instead, she emphasized the importance of understanding masculinity as a spectrum of practices and beliefs shaped by cultural, political, and social forces.

She also discussed:

• The Nuances of Masculinities: Toxic masculinity is only one part of a broader set of masculinities that influence radicalization. Dr. Pearson highlighted how some masculinities are perceived as aspirational within extremist ideologies, offering both men and women a framework of identity, and purpose.
• Masculinity as Mobilization: Extremist groups utilize gendered narratives not just to recruit men but also to give them a sense of moral authority and justification for violence or activism. This includes the radical right’s use of “protective” masculinity to frame themselves as defenders of the nation and vulnerable populations, such as women and children.
• Women’s Role in Toxic Masculinities: Dr. Pearson also pointed out that women often play a role in perpetuating, reinforcing, and at times challenging toxic masculinity within extremist movements. Their involvement complicates the notion of masculinity as solely a male project.

Additional Highlights

• Fragmentation and Fluidity: Dr. Pearson discussed how individuals move between extremist movements based on where they feel their gendered identities best align, illustrating the fluid nature of radicalization across ideological lines.
• Modern Influences: She explored the roles of online influencers like Andrew Tate, whose masculinist rhetoric blends traditional gender roles with modern digital platforms, appealing to younger generations of potential recruits.
• Intersectionality: Dr. Pearson emphasized the need to understand how race, class, and gender intersect within extremism, shaping how masculinities are expressed and acted upon in different contexts.

Key Takeaways

Dr. Pearson’s research expands our understanding of the gendered dynamics of extremism, moving beyond simplistic notions of toxic masculinity to reveal how masculinities function as both a cultural and political tool within extremist movements. Her talk challenged attendees to think critically about the ways in which these movements construct and weaponize gender.

For those who missed the event, a recording may be requested by send an email to hgv5008@psu.edu.

Don’t miss the final Digital Sawyer of the semester on December 9, featuring Maria Elena Indelicato.

ABSTRACT AND BIO

VIDEO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Please send the title of the talk and the name of the presenter in an email to hgv5008@psu.edu to request a private link.

Dr. Chelsea Ebin’s public lecture on November 6, “Ideologies of the Christian Right: Christian Nationalism, White Supremacy, Patriarchal Traditionalism, and Antisemitism” explored the core ideological components of the Christian Right in the United States, focusing on how these beliefs shape and sustain social and political movements within the country.

Key Points:

1. Foundations and Historical Roots: Dr. Ebin traced the Christian Right’s ideological origins back to the 1970s, analyzing how its coalition was built on anti-modernist, anti-feminist, and anti-LGBTQ sentiments. These stances underpin a broader reactionary movement resisting societal changes perceived as threatening to traditional values.
2. Core Ideological Commitments: Ebin identified defining tenets of the Christian Right:
   • Christian Nationalism: The belief that the U.S. should be an explicitly Christian nation, where civic life is infused with Christian identity and ideals.
   • Male Supremacy: A patriarchal system advocating for male authority in all aspects of society, often justified with specific Biblical passages promoting male headship and female submission.
   • Antisemitism: She discussed both overt antisemitism and its more subtle manifestations, which appear in apocalyptic “end times” narratives that frame Jews and other minority groups as antagonists in a Christian-centric world.
   • White Supremacy: Ebin explained how the Christian Right incorporates white supremacist ideologies, framing white Christians as victims of leftist agendas, demographic changes, and other perceived threats.
3. Political and Social Implications: Ebin discussed how these ideologies foster a longing for a return to an idealized past, where traditional, hierarchical social structures prevailed. She examined statements by figures within the movement, revealing aspirations for a political future that excludes non-white, non-Christian, and LGBTQ individuals. She also highlighted how these beliefs are increasingly anti-democratic, as seen in support for political structures that limit voting rights to families rather than individuals, or that openly question democratic participation for certain groups.
4. Contemporary Relevance: Concluding her lecture, Ebin tied these historical and ideological frameworks to current political developments, pointing out the resurgence of these ideas in movements aiming to reshape American democracy through exclusionary and theocratic principles.

This talk illuminated the deep-seated ideologies fueling parts of the American right-wing and underscored the importance of understanding these beliefs to grasp their influence on contemporary U.S. politics.

ABSTRACT AND BIO

VIDEO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Please send the title of the talk and the name of the presenter in an email to hgv5008@psu.edu to request a private link.

Dr. Chelsea Ebin’s talk explored the rise of male supremacy and Christian nationalism within the Patriot Church movement, emphasizing its influence on American civic life and religious ideology. Her research examines how this movement merges conservative theology with political aims to shape a nation aligned with specific Christian principles, impacting legislation, cultural norms, and the rights of marginalized groups.

Ebin’s presentation underscored the potential consequences of this blend of religious nationalism and male supremacy on American society. Her analysis illustrated how the Patriot Church and similar movements are mobilizing support for a theocratic vision of America, where adherence to their interpretation of Christian beliefs defines citizenship and civic rights. The Patriot Church’s focus on gender hierarchy, traditional family roles, and Christian dominionism represents a deliberate attempt to reframe American identity and governance around a selective, exclusionary interpretation of Christianity.

This talk contributed significantly to understanding the political strategies of White Christian Nationalism, highlighting how religious and male supremacist ideals are being wielded to reinforce societal structures that privilege specific beliefs while marginalizing others.

ABSTRACT AND BIO

VIDEO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Please send the title of the talk and the name of the presenter in an email to hgv5008@psu.edu to request a private link.

Today, Dr. Cat Tebaldi explored the intersections of gender, power, and far-right ideologies, particularly focusing on how women are mobilized within these movements. Her presentation highlighted the ways in which traditional gender roles are weaponized by far-right groups to promote anti-feminist and white nationalist agendas.

Tebaldi analyzed how femininity is constructed in far-right discourse using “femininity manuals.” These manuals transform power differences into perceived natural differences between genders, reinforcing the idea that women are naturally submissive and men dominant. Tebaldi emphasized how these ideas naturalize submission, portraying it as part of women’s inherent desire and work, making it central to the far-right’s gendered social order.

Another significant aspect of Tebaldi’s presentation was how Christian romance narratives are utilized to frame traditional gender roles as ideal and desirable. These narratives often present submission as a path to harmonious relationships and, by extension, a harmonious social order. This framework encourages a return to “traditional” gender roles, aligning with far-right values that reject feminism and embrace gender essentialism.

Tebaldi also focused on the role of women, particularly “tradwives” (traditional wives), in far-right movements. These women use narratives of love, romance, and femininity to elevate white masculinity.

The presentation tied together semiotic analysis, critical discourse theory, and gender studies to explore how femininity and submission are weaponized by far-right movements. Tebaldi framed the traditional woman’s role as both seductive and political, arguing that these narratives not only normalize male domination but make it desirable by linking it to love and romance.

ABSTRACT AND BIO

Event Summary: Muscular Nationalism in Contemporary India

Yesterday, Dr. Sikata Banerjee delivered a powerful lecture examining muscular nationalism and its role in shaping contemporary Indian politics. Dr. Banerjee used a gendered lens to unpack how nationalism is constructed as a masculine project, intertwined with Hindu nationalism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Key Themes Discussed:

1. Muscular Nationalism and Gender:
   • Dr. Banerjee explained how muscular nationalism centers around the adult male body, poised to defend the nation through violence and sacrifice.
   • The concept creates a dichotomy of “Us vs. Them,” positioning a national masculine self against a feminized enemy.
   • This masculinity is juxtaposed with a chaste female body, symbolizing national honor and providing a moral code for the lives of women in the nation. Banerjee referred to this as the “Martial Man/Chaste Woman” dynamic.
2. Political and Social Consequences:
   • Dr. Banerjee highlighted how the demonization of “the other” has become open and unapologetic, with rising individualism and increasingly precarious positions for women.
   • She noted how defense spending in India under Hindu nationalism shifts resources away from other priorities, with violence against Muslims on the rise, fueled by concepts like Love Jihad.
3. Contemporary Events and Impacts:
   • Prof. Banerjee discussed instances of violence, often directed at Muslims or lower-caste groups, justified as responses to so-called “anti-Hindu” acts.
   • She highlighted how youth gangs are increasingly involved in policing women’s chastity, further entrenching gendered social controls.
   • The lecture concluded with an analysis of the differences between nation and state, the social construction of masculine and feminine traits, and how hegemonic masculinity persists across different historical and cultural contexts, propped up by political and cultural power.

Dr. Banerjee’s presentation emphasized the lasting impact of these gendered nationalist ideologies, demonstrating how they shape contemporary political discourse and reinforce patriarchal structures in Indian society.

Photos from the Public Lecture:

Foster Auditorium

Dr. Banerjee during her public talk

Dr. Banerjee during her public talk

ABSTRACT AND BIO

VIDEO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Please send the title of the talk and the name of the presenter in an email to hgv5008@psu.edu to request a private link

Event Summary: The Violence of Empire: Anti-Trans Activism Online in the US and UK

Today, Dr. Anna Meier examined the rise of online anti-trans activism. Dr. Meier used a postcolonial approach to unpack the narratives of transmisogyny and transphobia in online spaces, situating these phenomena within the broader context of colonial power dynamics.

Key Themes Discussed:

1. Erasure of Trans Identities: Dr. Meier explored how far-right communities actively work to erase trans identities, with a specific focus on the marginalization of transmasculine and nonbinary people. She highlighted how much of the online discourse fixates on trans women, reflecting colonial-era gender constructs that deem femininity inferior. This erasure serves to uphold harmful stereotypes that invalidate the identities of trans people, particularly trans men, and enforce a rigid gender binary.
2. Intersection with Other Forms of Discrimination: The webinar delved into the interconnected nature of transmisogyny and other forms of discrimination, such as racism, antisemitism, and homophobia. Dr. Meier showed how transmisogyny is not a standalone form of hate but is deeply tied to colonial logics that promote white supremacy. She emphasized that these narratives often coalesce in the wake of violent attacks, reinforcing far-right ideologies and enabling the continued marginalization of trans people.

Dr. Meier’s analysis focused on two key case studies: the Bratislava shooting in 2022 and the Nashville shooting in 2023. In their examination, Meier and her collaborators found that far-right narratives frequently depict trans people as inherently dangerous, using conspiracy theories and colonial stereotypes to portray them as threats to social order and dehumanize them. This deliberate vilification serves to justify discrimination and violence against trans individuals.

Dr. Meier concluded that understanding and countering anti-trans activism requires an acknowledgment of its roots in colonial power structures and gendered violence.

ABSTRACT AND BIO

Photos from the Live Lecture: