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:

ABSTRACT AND BIO

Photos from the Live Lecture:

ABSTRACT AND BIO

Photos from the Live Lecture: