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79410-01 - Seminar: Gender Is a Weapon: Feminism, Fascism, and the Far Right (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Elizabeth Mesok (elizabeth.mesok@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This course takes a broad approach to the conceptualization of gender as a weapon — that is, as an instrument leveraged by far-right and fascist political factions. The design of the course is intentionally exploratory, offering students the historical, theoretical, and methodological building blocks necessary for understanding contemporary political movements, conflicts, and violence. Rather than attempting to define “fascism” or “the far right,” we will instead trace the continuities and ruptures in what Judith Butler calls the “furious nostalgia” of “fascist passions,” exploring the complex and often paradoxical relationship between feminisms, fascist ideologies, and the contemporary far right. The course covers the role of gender discourse and identities in various historic iterations of fascism, as well as the specificities of the contemporary far right, particularly in the US and Europe. We will work to unpack and problematize oft-repeated labels assigned to far-right political maneuvers—such as anti-gender, anti-feminism, anti-DEI, and femonationalism—while remaining cautious to not see the mobilization of women’s rights or feminist rhetoric as exclusive to the far right. To that end, we will draw comparisons with the weaponization of feminism by liberal imperial factions, through imperial or colonial feminisms and homonationalism. Additionally, the course centers the role of digital platforms in amplifying far-right narratives, considering the extreme contexts of the so-called manosphere alongside mainstream social media sites where women’s participation serves to normalize and diffuse fascist ideologies. Importantly, this course treats gender as a category that is always already informed by race, class, ethnicity, religion, and other power dynamics. By centering intersectional feminist praxis and looking to Black, Indigenous, women of color, and socialist feminist traditions, together we will continue to elaborate visions of emancipatory feminist politics. |
| Admission requirements | Students must have a background in feminist theory and gender and sexuality studies, and be prepared for a reading-intensive course. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 15.09.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 22.09.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 29.09.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 06.10.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 13.10.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 20.10.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 27.10.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 03.11.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 10.11.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 17.11.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 24.11.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 01.12.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 08.12.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Tuesday 15.12.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Modules |
Module: Advanced Theories and Debates in Gender Studies (Master's degree subject: Gender Studies) Module: Bodies, Objects, Circulation (Master's degree program: Changing Societies) Specialization Module Global Europe: Work, Migration and Society (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Students will be assessed on the basis of course participation (being physically present in the classroom and intellectually engaged); one presentation; and one writing assignment. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Gender Studies |