Gender found Guilty: Anti-Gender Backlash and (Dis)Translation Politics in Iraq

Abstract

The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court banned the term gender in February 2024, resulting in a crackdown on gender equity and significantly undermining the space for feminist activism and advocacy. This article examines the conditions leading to the 2023 anti-gender backlash in Iraq, the discursive strategies of the backlashers, and its broader implications for feminist activism. The backlash was rooted in ongoing sociopolitical repression following the 2019 Tishreen (October) protests and a climate of widespread disinformation. It gained traction by weaponizing concepts of gender and homophobia. Opponents framed the term gender as a Western plot aimed at undermining Islamic values and societal norms. They exploited the problematic relationship between gender and translation, using deliberate misinterpretations to construct a narrative that demonizes gender and those who support gendered understandings of social relationships. Analyzing the backlashers’ discourse and incorporating local feminist voices, this study highlights the backlash on gendered activism, academic inquiry, and women’s rights. The article concludes by discussing the intertwined nature of discursive and material violence, emphasizing the erosion of human rights in post-2003 Iraq and contributing to the broader literature on gendered activism in the Middle East and globally.