Although the far right has become more heterogenous in recent years, it remains predominantly a male-dominated environment, and a masculinist one. Indeed, it stands out from other political milieus with its explicit commitment to traditional gender roles, misogynistic rhetoric and/or anti-feminist views. What happens then when women researchers engage in close-up research to study this male-dominated environment? While issues related to gender relations and sexism during fieldwork concern all researchers identifying and presenting as women, male-dominated milieus, such as the far right, exacerbate this phenomenon. Drawing on 17 interviews with women researchers with experience of close-up research on the far right, this article investigates the challenges they face to ensure their emotional and physical safety and highlights the lack of guidance, support, and resources from institutions.

Leave a Reply