Backlash (sociology)

A backlash is a strong negative or hostile reaction to a particular idea, action, trend, or social change. It often arises when individuals or groups perceive a threat to their values, status, or power. In sociopolitical contexts, particularly within identity politics in the Western world, the term is frequently used to describe reactions against efforts to advance the rights or visibility of marginalized groups.

Backlashes can manifest as public opposition, policy reversals, or cultural resistance, and are often viewed as attempts to restore a previous social or political order. Scholars sometimes interpret backlash not as a denial of change, but as a response driven by perceived loss, resentment, or fear of displacement.

Historical Western examples

• 13th Amendment — Jim Crow Laws were racial backlash in response to the amendment to the United States constitution. ^[1]
• Civil rights — Voting restrictions implemented.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Women's Movement — Backlash centered on infertility issues, women's "biological clock" and shortage of men. ^[2]

Contemporary Western examples

• Me Too Movement — Impacted women in the workforce. Men were more reluctant to hire women deemed attractive, more reluctant to have one-on-one meetings with women, and had greater fears of being unfairly accused. In addition to this, 56% of women surveyed predicted that men would continue to harass them but would be more cautious to avoid being caught. ^[3] Backlash of date-rape prevalent with misleading language used in media. In 1987 it was called an "epidemic" and in 1993, "rape hype"; terms that were exaggerated and victim oriented. ^[4]
• Abortion — Defund Planned Parenthood Act
  • "This bill temporarily restricts federal funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. Specifically, the bill prohibits, for a one-year period, the availability of federal funds for any purpose to this entity, or any of its affiliates or clinics, unless they certify that the affiliates and clinics will not perform, and will not provide any funds to any other entity that performs, an abortion during such period. This restriction does not apply in cases of rape or incest or where a physical condition endangers a woman's life unless an abortion is performed. ^[5]

• LGBT backlash — Bathroom bills and medical bans are proposed to restrict the rights of transgender youth and adults. Arguments center around fair play in sports and sexual harassment in bathrooms. ^[6]
• Black Lives Matter — Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter campaigns created in response. ^[7]
• Bikelash - A colloquial term about the social and political resistance to the creation of urban infrastructure intended to accommodate safer cycling, seemingly at the expense of the use of automobiles. ^[8]

See also

• EDSA III
• Estallido social
• Feminazi
• Straight pride
• White backlash
• White Lives Matter
• Yellow vests movement
• Angry young man (South Korea)
• Anger
• Reactionary
• Greenlash

References

1. "Jim Crow Laws: Definition, Facts & Timeline". HISTORY. 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
2. Faludi, Susan (1991). Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women. New York City: Crown Publishing Group. p. 61. ISBN   978-0-517-57698-4.
3. Tim, Bower (2019-09-01). "The #MeToo Backlash". Harvard Business Review. ISSN   0017-8012 . Retrieved 2021-04-26.
4. "The Date Rape Backlash". Media Education Foundation Online Store. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
5. Hartzler, Vicky (2019-01-25). "H.R.369 – 116th Congress (2019-2020): Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2019". congress.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
6. Murphy, Hannah (2021-04-21). "How Trans Kids Landed in the Crossfire of the Culture Wars — and the Damage It Could Do". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
7. "History of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter: Social activism on Twitter". Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
8. Bubbers, Matt (23 August 2019). "The 'bikelash' is real: What the war between bikes and cars says about us". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 18 February 2023.

Further reading

• Thomas, Sue (December 2008). "'Backlash' and Its Utility to Political Scientists". Politics & Gender. 4 (4): 615–623. doi:10.1017/S1743923X08000494. ISSN   1743-9248. S2CID   144647905.
• Greendorfer, Susan L. (1998-04-01). "Title IX Gender Equity, Backlash and Ideology". Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal. 7 (1): 69–93. doi:10.1123/wspaj.7.1.69. ISSN   1063-6161.
• Pierce, Jennifer L. (2003-09-01). "Traveling from Feminism to Mainstream Sociology and Back: One Woman's Tale of Tenure and the Politics of Backlash". Qualitative Sociology. 26 (3): 369–396. doi:10.1023/A:1024070310729. ISSN   1573-7837. S2CID   142585188.
• Alexander, Jeffrey C. (1990-09-13). Durkheimian Sociology: Cultural Studies. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   9780521396479.
• Pierce, Jennifer L. (2003-03-01). ""Racing for Innocence": Whiteness, Corporate Culture, and the Backlash Against Affirmative Action". Qualitative Sociology. 26 (1): 53–70. doi:10.1023/A:1021404020349. ISSN   1573-7837. S2CID   140760711.
• Lindbekk, Tore (1998-04-01). "The Education Backlash Hypothesis: The Norwegian Experience 1960-92". Acta Sociologica. 41 (2–3): 151–162. doi:10.1177/000169939804100204. ISSN   0001-6993. S2CID   145098305.
• Bozorgmehr, Mehdi (2012-05-01). "Behind the Backlash: Muslim Americans after 9/11". Contemporary Sociology. 41 (3): 358–359. doi:10.1177/0094306112443520cc. ISSN   0094-3061. S2CID   144587958.
• Mann, Kirk; Roseneil, Sasha (1994-11-01). "'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em': Backlash and the gender politics of the underclass debate". Journal of Gender Studies. 3 (3): 317–331. doi:10.1080/09589236.1994.9960579. ISSN   0958-9236.
• Rogers, Mary F.; Lott, Phillip B. (1997-06-01). "Backlash, the Matrix of Domination, and Log Cabin Republicans". The Sociological Quarterly. 38 (3): 497–512. doi:10.1111/j.1533-8525.1997.tb00489.x. ISSN   0038-0253.
• Phelan, Julie E.; Rudman, Laurie A. (2010). "Prejudice Toward Female Leaders: Backlash Effects and Women's Impression Management Dilemma". Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 4 (10): 807–820. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2010.00306.x. ISSN   1751-9004.
• Kennedy, Mary; Lubelska, Cathy; Walsh, Val (2005-08-04). Making Connections: Women's Studies, Women's Movements, Women's Lives. Taylor & Francis. ISBN   9781135749798.
• Pierce, Jennifer L. (2013). "White Racism, Social Class, and the Backlash Against Affirmative Action". Sociology Compass. 7 (11): 914–926. doi:10.1111/soc4.12082. ISSN   1751-9020.
• Alexander, Jeffrey C. (2013-04-01). "Struggling over the mode of incorporation: backlash against multiculturalism in Europe". Ethnic and Racial Studies. 36 (4): 531–556. doi:10.1080/01419870.2012.752515. ISSN   0141-9870. S2CID   33590706.