Is There a Backlash Against Identity Politics? Experimental and Focus Group Evidence on the Conflict Over Gender-Neutral Language in Germany

Abstract

Does gender-progressive value change prompt conservative backlash? This study combines survey-experimental and focus group data to examine how salient debates over gender-neutral language in Germany influence political alienation and voting intentions across different groups. Both studies consistently show widespread rejection of gender-neutral language. Despite aggressive public discourse, reactions remain surprisingly nonpolitical. Experimental exposure to a moralizing request to use gender-neutral language in a survey (n = 6100) elicits negative reactions but no alienation. The treatment does decrease, however, vote intentions for the gender-progressive Greens, particularly among men. Rejection of gender-neutral language without political blaming also prevails in the twelve group discussions (n = 64), regardless of gender or education. Polarizing conversation dynamics are rare. Hence, despite a conducive context of salience and politicization, there are no indications of crystallized backlash against progressive gender values. However, an intensification of negative attitudes over the one-year data collection period may signal early stages of backlash formation.

Keywords

elections,public opinion,and voting behavior gender sexuality and politics experimental research qualitative methods political parties

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