Education as a Field of Contention: Feminist and Anti-gender Struggles over Democracy

Abstract This article examines education as a contentious field where feminist movements and anti-gender actors in Italy clash over the role of sexuality education. Feminists advocate for educational reforms to dismantle gender stereotypes and promote equality, framing education as a cornerstone of democratic principles and human rights. Conversely, anti-gender actors portray such initiatives as an imposition of “gender ideology,” threatening traditional family structures and moral values. Drawing on Critical Frame Analysis, this study analyzes the competing narratives employed by feminist and anti-gender actors, highlighting their divergent views on the role of state intervention, the relationship between democracy and family, and the interpretation of gender. Overall, the article argues about competing discourses on sexuality education as crucial factors that reshape democratic governance, and that sexuality education embeds larger cultural and social implications which can either enhance or undermine democracy.