Political Right Religious Actors and Conservative Project in Uruguay: the agenda anti gender at the core

Abstract

Uruguay, like other countries in the region, experienced a conservative political regression after fifteen years of progressive governments, with a neoliberal government, which has promoted a pro-life strategy, and with an unprecedented presence of personalities linked to the military and religious arena. Anti-feminist movements and policies in Uruguay gained new impetus with the change of government in 2020, managing to promote discursive and legal changes. At the center of the discourse and proposals appears the strengthening of the traditional family, hegemonic masculinity and the limitation of rights related to sexual health. The article examines the implementation of the conservative project in Uruguay at two levels of action: in the promotion of legal regulations with anti-feminist content, and in the legitimization of anti-gender discourses on the one hand. On the other hand, the articulation of social, political and religious actors that occurs around this agenda is studied, at the national level and in its transnational articulation. Both levels of action are articulated in public policies that are promoted by the Executive Branch in key ministries such as public health and social development.