The New Right-Wing Populist: The Blonde “Mother of the Nation”

Christina Charie ’25, Political Science, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Economics major Faculty mentor: Dr. Casey Stevens, Political Science How do far-right populist women rise to positions of influence within patriarchal political parties? This study finds that feminine presentation styles make it more difficult to label a far-right leader as fascist because the aesthetic emphasizes nurturing, motherly qualities. Answering this question is part of understanding the appeal of new female populist right-wing leaders in Europe, like Marine Le Pen and Giorgia Meloni. This paper will use archival research to identify historical trends in right-wing presentation styles, concluding with a comparative case study. This study will illuminate the ways that gender, appearance, and populist politics interact to allow women to rise through their ranks.