For weeks now, hundreds of thousands of people across Germany have been taking to the streets to take a stand against right-wing extremism and to demonstrate for an open, solidary society. They are thus sending an important message against the shift to the right in Germany.
The high poll numbers of the AfD, the omnipresence of hate speech and sexism, the massive increase in queerphobic, racist, antisemitic crimes, and the strengthening of anti-feminist movements illustrate the normalisation of misanthropic, right-wing extremist positions that has been taking place for years. We must collectively oppose this normalisation to protect our democracy and vulnerable people. Today and in the future!
The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Täterarbeit Häusliche Gewalt e.V. is firmly committed to the equality of all genders. This is countered by anti-feminist narratives and the narrow understanding of a biologically based, binary gender hierarchy. Anti-feminism and biological gender constructions are central pillars of right-wing extremist ideologies. At the same time, as the Leipzig Authoritarianism Study regularly shows, they are widespread in large parts of what is known as the social mainstream. Anti-feminism thus has a hinge function, enabling extreme right-wing actors to connect with other social groups and thereby gain majority support. If we want to remove the breeding ground for right-wing extremist thinking, addressing and transforming discriminatory gender stereotypes is essential. This requires an intensive, critical examination of existing gender constructions – in schools, in public, in politics, in academia, and also in perpetrator work.
The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Täterarbeit Häusliche Gewalt e.V. stands in solidarity with all people affected by right-wing violence and supports the call “Hand in Hand – now become actively solidary!” with its signature.
