Against gender: “gender ideology” in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies

Abstract:

This article aims to analyze the backlash against gender equality and sexual diversity, based on Bills and other legislative proposals presented in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies that included the notion of “gender ideology” and/or “ideology” and “gender” simultaneously. We collected all the bill presented in the Chamber between 2012, the year that the term was first used in a legislative bill, and 2018. The source for the data was the website of the Chamber of Deputies. We identified the themes and objectives of the bills, as well as the profile of their authors. The conclusion is that the notion of “gender ideology” fostered the convergence of multiple actors, mostly conservative Catholics and Pentecostals, around two central issues: sex education and gender identity. The analysis contributes understanding how this phenomenon has gained force at the national level, challenging the rights of women and the LGBTQ + population, the secularity of the State, and democracy.

Keywords:
“gender ideology”; Chamber of Deputies; conservatism; sex education; gender identity; democracy