‘Gender Ideology’ (‘GI’), as an expression, appeared at the beginning of this century within documents of the Catholic Church with the aim of delegitimizing what had been produced in the field of Gender Studies. That intent was strongly clarified, being coincident with the discussion in France about the law on equal marriage, during the protests of Manif pour Tous. Likewise, in Italy, oppositions to draft laws about homophobia and civil unions generated movements unified by the denouncing of “GI”. This essay presents research conducted between 2014–2017 about online materials of some Italian associations that are positioned as “GI opponents”. The content analysis underlines the use of a violent communication style that aims to create alarm and panic regarding presumed ‘gender drifts’ within social and educational contexts. This operation reveals the attempt to reaffirm an anthropological vision of sexuality based on the hierarchical-complementary relationship between male and female. The analysis highlights the risk of a sort of “Silence Spiral”, where—in the face of a noisy and violent minority—numerous and various voices disappear. These voices differentiate, and invoke the urgency of a deeper debate about the concept of gender and its implications within educational, social, and ecclesiastical contexts.

(2017). An attack called defence: the communication strategy of ‘gender opponents’ in Italy [journal article - articolo]. In REM. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/118874

An attack called defence: the communication strategy of ‘gender opponents’ in Italy

Ottaviano, Cristiana
2017-01-01

Abstract

‘Gender Ideology’ (‘GI’), as an expression, appeared at the beginning of this century within documents of the Catholic Church with the aim of delegitimizing what had been produced in the field of Gender Studies. That intent was strongly clarified, being coincident with the discussion in France about the law on equal marriage, during the protests of Manif pour Tous. Likewise, in Italy, oppositions to draft laws about homophobia and civil unions generated movements unified by the denouncing of “GI”. This essay presents research conducted between 2014–2017 about online materials of some Italian associations that are positioned as “GI opponents”. The content analysis underlines the use of a violent communication style that aims to create alarm and panic regarding presumed ‘gender drifts’ within social and educational contexts. This operation reveals the attempt to reaffirm an anthropological vision of sexuality based on the hierarchical-complementary relationship between male and female. The analysis highlights the risk of a sort of “Silence Spiral”, where—in the face of a noisy and violent minority—numerous and various voices disappear. These voices differentiate, and invoke the urgency of a deeper debate about the concept of gender and its implications within educational, social, and ecclesiastical contexts.
articolo
2017
REM
Ottaviano, Cristiana
(2017). An attack called defence: the communication strategy of ‘gender opponents’ in Italy [journal article - articolo]. In REM. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/118874
File allegato/i alla scheda:
File Dimensione del file Formato  
An attack called defence the communication strategy of gender opponents in Italy_Ottaviano.pdf

accesso aperto

Versione: publisher's version - versione editoriale
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione del file 577.76 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
577.76 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Aisberg ©2008 Servizi bibliotecari, Università degli studi di Bergamo | Terms of use/Condizioni di utilizzo

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10446/118874
Citazioni
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact