Social Work and the Far-Right - Why it Matters to the Safety of Women:Perspectives from Australia and the United States of America

This research explores the experiences of social workers, academics and researchers with expertise in right-wing extremism in Australia and the United States of America who, as part of their professional practice or research, are engaging with people known to have right-wing extremist views. The study particularly investigates the role of social work in countering far-right extremism and considers how these far-right ideologies impact women’s equality and safety through an analysis of experiences across both countries. The research also considers how participants’ experiential knowledge could inform professional practice in this field. Situated within a conceptual framework that integrates feminist methodology, this research addresses a gap in literature, while research on right-wing extremism and deradicalisation exists, few studies scrutinise how these ideologies directly affect women. This thesis considers all aspects of this research and concludes by presenting a framework for social workers to deliver services in addressing far-right extremism. Eleven participants—social workers, academics, and researchers who had had direct experience in this field—engaged in semi-structured conversations that were recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. This qualitative approach allowed participants to explore aspects of far-right extremism which they deemed to be important, while maintaining confidentiality, enabling them to speak freely about their work, institutional constraints, and political contexts. Three key themes emerged: (1) the complexities in defining far-right ideologies and their intersectionality with race, religion, and gender; (2) the direct connection between far-right ideologies and violence against women; and, (3) challenges facing social work in addressing these ideologies and potential strategies for countering their harmful effects. The findings reveal that far-right ideologies are increasingly mainstreamed through political rhetoric that emphasises ‘traditional family values’ while masking regressive gender policies. These ideologies operate through multiple interconnected mechanisms: religious doctrines that restrict women's reproductive autonomy; online ‘manosphere’ communities promoting misogyny; and, white supremacist movements positioning women primarily as reproducers of the race. Participants identified clear connections between these ideologies and violence against women, noting how they provide ideological justification for male dominance and control. The research concludes that social work is uniquely positioned yet underutilised in countering far-right extremism. Social workers possess the professional skills to navigate the complex dynamics at personal, family, and community levels, but face barriers including institutional conservatism and political sensitivities. Professional social work organisations and universities were characterised by participants as being cautious in challenging increasingly mainstream far-right rhetoric, despite their contradictory social work values of equality and social justice. This research contributes to understanding how patriarchal systems are reinforced and weaponised within far-right contexts and highlights the urgent need for social work practitioners to develop nuanced approaches to addressing ideologies that threaten women's rights and safety. It demonstrates the necessity for social work practice to reclaim its political voice in policy discussions, while developing practical interventions that counter harmful gender ideologies without alienating potential allies or funding sources.