Chanting – Marching – Uniforms – Street violence – Men: These are the usual images when picturing the past and present far-right. But what about the so-called “softer” face of the far-right? What about women? With this question, conference organizer Denisa Nešťáková (Marburg) set the stage for the event, initiating a rich dialogue on the complex roles of women in far-right movements, both past and present. The conference brought scholars together to address the often-overlooked role of women in far-right movements, historically and in contemporary times, with the strong focus on Central and Eastern Europe. The event aimed to challenge conventional narratives by emphasizing the diverse and active participation of women in these extremist movements, both as agents and subjects. One of the conference’s central aims was to explore the intersection of gender and far-right ideology, particularly how women’s roles have been instrumentalized to advance far-right causes. The discussions spanned multiple geographies and time periods, examining movements such as Fascism, Nazism, neo-fascism, and the modern alt-right, especially in East Central, Northeastern, and Southeastern Europe. Importantly, it was shown that women’s involvement in far-right movements is multifaceted, challenging the stereotype of the far-right as a male-dominated space. Speakers consistently noted that women in these movements have both reproduced and redefined traditional gender norms. By defending values such as family, motherhood, and traditional roles, women have become powerful advocates of far-right ideologies, often disguising extremist positions behind “apolitical” issues such as the protection of family and nation.
The keynote by EVIANE LEIDIG (Oslo) set the tone, providing a compelling analysis of how far-right movements adapt patriarchal values to modern contexts. Leidig emphasized that while far-right ideologies uphold traditional gender roles, they also empower women as activists, particularly in online spaces, where they are critical to recruitment and propaganda efforts. This framing of women’s roles highlights the duality of their position within these movements – as both conforming to and challenging patriarchal systems.
ANCA DIANA AXINIA (Bucharest) provided a nuanced look at women’s involvement in early fascist movements, specifically Romania’s Legionary Movement. By discussing the complex political participation of aristocrats and intellectuals, Axinia highlighted the contested roles of women within far-right hierarchies, thus reshaping our understanding of interwar fascism. JAKUB DRÁBIK (Prague) explored the overlooked roles of women in Czechoslovakia’s National Fascist Community, emphasizing that far-right history must be re-evaluated through a gendered lens. This approach revealed that women, far from being marginal participants, were critical actors within these movements. LJUBINKA ŠKODRIĆ (Belgrade) discussed the women’s conflicting roles during Nazi occupation in Serbia in 1941, highlighting the intersection between conservatism and Nazi influence, and contrasts between promoted patriarchal subordination of women and an active role of female youth section within the movement.
LAUREN ASHLEY BRADFORD’s (Worcester) comparative study looked at women’s participation in racial terror during Nazi Germany and Jim Crow America. By analysing how women contributed to systemic violence and exclusionary practices, Bradford demonstrated the far-reaching implications of female involvement in perpetuating extremist ideologies. PHILIPPE HENRI BLASEN (Luxembourg) discussed Elena Bacaloglu, a figure who attempted to bridge Italian and Romanian fascisms. Through Bacaloglu’s struggles, Blasen illuminated the tensions women faced within far-right movements, where gender often acted as a barrier to full political participation, despite their significant contributions.
ELISABETTA CAVALLIN (Pisa) introduced the portrait of three Italian fascist women – Piera Gatteschi Fondelli, Cesaria Pancheri, and Carla Costa – highlighting their self-presentation as agents of fascist ideology. Illustrating how far-right women navigated both national and transnational political landscapes, Cavallin argues that an analysis of the behaviour of women, and thus gender and intersectional perspectives deepen the study of fascism as a whole, providing new ideas and interpretative contributions.
ANNE-SOPHIE CROSETTI (Brussels) examined the role of women in anti-abortion activism, revealing how far-right women weaponized feminist tools to support anti-feminist and anti-gender ideologies. Similarly, SHABAN DARAKCHI (Sofia/Antwerp) analyzed female leadership in Bulgaria’s anti-gender campaigns, questioning whether these leadership roles perpetuated traditional gender hierarchies or established new forms of rhetoric.
Addressing the enduring historical continuity of female participation in far-right movements, MICHELANGELO BORRI (Trieste/Udine) and GIOVANNI BRUNETTI (Verona) traced the evolution of post-war female fascist networks in Italy. Their bottom-up approach highlighted the persistent ties between neo-fascist movements and the community of political prisoners still incarcerated in Italian prisons into the early 1950s. This study underscored the long-term resilience of far-right ideologies and the active role women played in sustaining these networks, pointing to the need for deeper examination of how women contribute to the longevity of extremist movements. ANDREJ KOTLIARTCHOUK (Uppsala) explored the life of Nadzieja Abramava, a Belarusian leader under Nazi occupation, by comparing her writings on family, gender, and religion during the Nazi era and in her later exile in the West. This comparative approach raised critical questions about the intersection of her views with Nazi ideology, Belarusian ethnic nationalism, and conservative Catholicism, prompting a broader inquiry into how far-right female figures reconcile or exploit these overlapping identities to further ideological goals. GEORGE SOUVLIS (Ioannina) examined the instrumentalization of gender roles from interwar fascism to the modern alt-right in Greece. He argued that far-right propaganda concerning women oscillates between deeply entrenched conservative ideals and the promotion of new models of femininity. This dual approach reveals the adaptability of far-right ideologies, with gender serving as a critical and flexible tool for advancing extremist narratives.
The conference demonstrated that the study of women in far-right movements opens new dimensions in understanding the evolution and endurance of extremist ideologies. Women are not passive victims or mere symbols of nationalist agendas, but active participants who have shaped the direction and success of these movements. Whether through leadership in historical fascism or modern-day online activism, women have played critical roles in advancing and sustaining far-right ideologies. By shedding light on these overlooked dimensions, the conference underscored the importance of integrating gender analysis into the study of far-right movements. The event revealed that women’s participation is not just a footnote in the history of extremism, but a vital component of the far-right’s ongoing narrative. Understanding this complex dynamic provides critical insights into the evolving nature of far-right extremism and how it continues to adapt to modern political contexts.
Conference overview:
Eviane Leidig (Oslo): Pouring old wine into new bottles: Female activism in the contemporary far right
Session 1: At the Birth of Fascism
Anca Diana Axinia (Bucharest): Wives, Intellectuals, Aristocrats: Women’s Membership Patterns in the Romanian Legionary Movement
Jakub Drábik (Prague): Unveiling the Forgotten: Women in the Czechoslovak National Fascist Community (1927–1932)
Ljubinka Škodrić (Belgrade): Between Nazi Service and Conservatism. A Polemic on the Role of Women in Occupied Serbia in 1941
Session 2: Networks and Connections
Philippe Henri Blasen (Luxembourg): Elena Bacaloglu – a Connector between Italian and Romanian Fascisms
Lauren Ashley Bradford (Worcester): Women in the Crowd: A Transatlantic Study of Women’s Participation in Racial Terror in Nazi Germany and Jim Crow America
Elisabetta Cavallin (Pisa): Piera Gatteschi Fondelli, Cesaria Pancheri and Carla Costa: Self-portrait of three fascist women
Session 3: Antifeminist Mobilisation
Anne-Sophie Crosetti (Brussels): Collages for Life “Pro Life Feminism”, public disorder and gender order
Shaban Darakchi (Sofia/Antwerp): “She is the female Victor Orban”: Female leadership in the anti-gender campaigns in Bulgaria
Session 4: Continuities: Form Interwar to Current
Michelangelo Borri (Trieste/Udine) / Giovanni Brunetti (Verona): “Guardians of the Faith”. The Italian Female Movement in post-war Italy
Andrej Kotliartchouk (Uppsala): Three lives of Nadzieja Abramava. The Leader of the Union of Belarusian Girls and her opinion writing in the Nazi-occupied Belarus and post-war Germany
George Souvlis (Ioannina): Instrumentalizing Gender: from interwar fascism to the Alt Right in Greece