Unmasking anti-gender discourse: its implementation as a tool for polarization in Turkey and Hungary

Abstract

While polarization literature identifies cultural cleavages and grievances as creating political divisions, it has not systematically examined how anti gen der discourse function s as a tool of polarization Drawing on Somer and McCoy’s ( framework of pernicious polarization, I examine how elites deploy anti gender rhetoric as a mechanism to deepen societal divisions. C o mbin ing polarization with theories of securitization and stigmatization I analyze the diversity of tools adopted by political elite The research comparatively analyzes Turkey and Hungary in order to explore similarities and differences. This thesis attempts to fill the gap in the literatu re by bringing a gender perspective to polarization literature by deciphering the rhetoric of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Süleyman Soylu, and Viktor Orbán, three political figures who frame reproductive and sexual rights and gender identity as existential threat s to national identity and family values. Drawing on theories of gender, polarization, securitization, and stigmatization, the study investigates how these leaders’ discursive strategies legitimize exclusionary policies I combine systematic content analys es of speeches through MAXQDA coding with Foucauldian discourse analys i s This dual approach made it possible to identify recurring themes, framing patterns, and the emotional tone embedded within anti gender rhetoric. Two different types of graphs are inc luded for all three leaders in this thesis: word trends and code trends. Findings reveal that Erdoğan, Soylu, and Orbán share a common ideological framework, however, they operationalize anti gender discourse differently. By integrating empirical evidence with theoretical insights, this thesis contributes to understanding the role of gendered narratives in sustaining electoral power and deepening societal divides.