SEXTANT: masculinities, sexualities & decolonialities

ABSTRACT

This essay provides a critical analysis of women’s role as biological reproducers of the nation and its implications on citizenship in 21st-century European nationalism. It argues that women’s role as biological reproducers of the nation is foundational to the nation-state’s strength and, therefore, leads to the control of sexuality and women’s bodies, limiting access to full citizenship for non-heterosexual people and women. With the rise of women’s and queer rights movements in the second half of the 20th century, it may seem like this has shifted. However, an analysis of the party programme of the German nationalist party AfD reveals that nationalist movements exploit these shifting sentiments to advance exclusionary agendas. Nationalist movements today still rely on powerful constructions of gender, which results in restricting citizenship based on gender, sexuality, and identity.

KEY WOrDS

gender; nationalism; citizenship; feminism

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.