The Myth of “Gender Ideology” in the Discourse of Brazil’s Far-Right

Abstract

The far-right won Brazil’s 2018 elections. Jair Bolsonaro, a former military officer, known for his apologies for torture, and his aggressive misogynist, homophobic and racist remarks, was elected president of the republic. One factor that helps explain the result is the ability of Bolsonaro and his group to promote a climate of “moral panic”. They consistently conveyed the impression that many institutions in the country, particularly those linked to education, were undermining the values of the traditional family through so-called “gender ideology” — a caricature of feminism and queer theory, produced by the more conservative sectors of the Catholic Church and adopted in Brazil by other religious denominations. The paper analyzes discourse by the president and some of his ministers, noting the presence of the theme “gender” and its role in the construction of the world view of the Brazilian far-right in power.