Gender ideology and the crisis of democracy in Latin America in legislative debates in Brazil and Uruguay

Abstract:

This article presents a comparative analysis of anti-gender movements in Latin America, focusing on Brazil and Uruguay, investigating how they relate to de-democratization. Methodologically, speeches given in legislative chambers of both countries about the so-called “gender ideology” in the decade of 2010 were thematically analyzed, using the thematic content analysis technique (Bardin, 2016). The article demonstrates that action through the legislature has been a common strategy among anti-gender movements, particularly aimed at establishing and/or strengthening religious foundations to promote conservative agendas and curtail rights. Nevertheless, the success of this strategy varies across countries. While there are similarities between the Brazilian and Uruguayan cases, the movements exhibit greater resilience in Brazil. This study contributes to a broader discussion that identifies gender issues as a pivotal axis in the process of de-democratization witnessed in various contemporary democracies. It underscores the fact that opposition to gender ideology extends beyond mere cultural debates, it is mainly established in the field of the dispute over democratic values and the very meaning of democracy.

Keywords:
gender ideology; dedemocratization; Brazil; Uruguay