Countering Backlash: Voice and the Struggle for Gender Justice in Lebanon

This paper explores how backlash has affected feminist and queer voice in Lebanon, how gender justice actors frame demands, build constituencies and alliances, and navigate compromises; and under what conditions their voice is amplified and recognised as legitimate. It examines these questions through three policy arenas: women’s political participation, civil marriage, and violence against women. It also examines the effect of tactical backlash on the LGBTQI+ community and how this relates to the broader struggle for gender rights. The Lebanese case shows that backlash is not only a reaction to feminist gains but part of the fabric of sectarian and patriarchal governance. This makes feminist and queer voice both precarious and vital in this context.