Event Date: 25 September at Paris-Lodron-University Salzburg, Austria
On 25 September 2025, the Push*Back*Lash Forum on Democracy and Gender Equality at the University of Salzburg brought together scholars, policymakers, and civil society actors to address urgent challenges posed by the anti-gender backlash in Europe. The forum formed part of the Push*Back*Lash Year 3 Conference, which included internal consortium meetings on the preceding and following day.
The Forum featured rich discussions on:
Explore the agenda, highlights, quotes, and key themes on this website. For further information please contact us at pbl@plus.ac.at.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9:00 | Registration & Coffee |
| 9:30 |
Opening Remarks Marianne Schulze (Human Rights Consultant & Chair of the University Council, University of Salzburg) Oriane Gilloz (Policy Officer, DG Research & Innovation, RTD, European Commission) Zoe Lefkofridi (PUSH*BACK*LASH Consortium Coordinator & Professor, University of Salzburg) |
| 9:45–11:15 |
Panel 1: Anti-Gender Backlash in Public Opinion Chair: Phillip Ayoub Participants: Kristi Winters, Juno Reichelt, Monika Kovács, Louise Luxton |
| 11:15–11:30 | Coffee Break |
| 11:30–13:00 |
Panel 2: Anti-Gender Backlash in Policy and Discourse Chair: Zoe Lefkofridi Participants: Liza Mügge, Isabelle Engeli, Zsuzsanna Vidra, Vera Beloshitzkaya |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break at Edmundsburg |
| 15:00–15:45 |
Evidence-based and Artistic Tools to Counteract Anti-Gender Backlash: Toolkit Presentations Chair: Vera Beloshitzkaya Participants: Joschka Köck, Kiara Gezels, Barbara Helfferich, Monika Kovács |
| 15:45–16:45 |
Panel 3: Gender Café – Ask the Experts Chair: Phillip Ayoub Participants: Monika Kovács, Joschka Köck, Barbara Helfferich, Zsuzsanna Vidra, Isabelle Engeli, Liza Mügge, Alexia Katsanidou, Zoe Lefkofridi, Camila Nobrega |
| 16:45–17:00 | Break |
| 17:00–18:00 |
Roundtable: Contextualizing Findings & Future Directions Rina Alluri (UNESCO Chair & Professor, University of Innsbruck) Phillip Ayoub (Member of PUSH*BACK*LASH Advisory Board & Professor, University College London) Zoe Lefkofridi (PUSH*BACK*LASH Consortium Coordinator & Professor, University of Salzburg) Janine Heinz (Policy Advisor to the Austrian Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research) Anna Rutz (Trainer, Accessibility Coordinator, Project Manager and Plenipotentiary of the Polish Minister of Science for supporting universities in increasing accessibility of education for disabled persons) |
| 18:00–19:30 | Closing Remarks & Reception |
Explore the key insights and actionable recommendations emerging from the Push*Back*Lash Forum on Democracy and Gender Equality, aimed at informing policy, practice, and future research here:
This forum is taking place at a crucial time for Europe. Democratic values and gender equality are under pressure. We therefore urgently need spaces where theory and practice can come together to develop solutions.
(Zoe Lefkofridi, Principal Investigator of Push*Back*Lash and Professor at the University of Salzburg)
In another year of democratic backsliding and anti-gender attacks, Push*Back*Lash brings evidence, art, and strategy into one room. I’m excited to learn from and trade tools that turn backlash into momentum for equality.
(Phillip Ayoub, Professor of International Relations at University College London)
Push*Back*Lash addresses the societal and political backlash against feminism and gender equality, recognising these as fundamental values of the Union and central to European democracy. It develops practical approaches to counter anti-gender equality and anti-feminist discursive strategies and backlash tactics across Europe and beyond.
(Oriane Gilloz, Policy Officer following Push*Back*Lash)
Coming from the sister project CCINDLE, I am eager to learn from the insights that Push*Back*Lash has generated, and am looking forward to exchange ideas in feminist responses to anti-gender politics.
(Mieke Verloo, Professor of Comparative Politics and Inequality Issues at Radboud University)
Photos: Push*Back*Lash “Forum on Democracy and Gender Equality”
Videos:
Introductory Remarks, Panel 1 and 2 here
Panel 3: Gender Café
