The purpose of this book project is to examine why autocracies adopt gender equality reforms. Historically, autocracies have had a bad track record with respect to the adoption of women’s rights reforms. Yet, in the past 30 years a majority of gender equality reforms have been adopted by non-democratic states. In the book, we make the argument that modern autocrats adopt gender-equality reforms with ulterior motives: to boost regime legitimacy while shifting attention away from violations of electoral integrity and human rights. We refer to this phenomenon as “autocratic genderwashing”. By taking credit for advances in gender equality, autocratic governments put the spotlight on an area that is widely seen as intimately connected with democracy, while drawing the focus away from persistent authoritarian practices.

To exercise autocratic genderwashing, autocrats devise legitimation strategies aimed at specific groups: the political opposition, international actors, and civil society and citizens. We use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze how and where these strategies take place and whether they are successful. We conclude by discussing how to expose autocratic genderwashing and prevent that gender-equality reforms are being used to strengthen authoritarian rule.

The project will benefit immensely from a research visit to Yale University, where I will consolidate and develop established contacts and present and discuss a full draft of the book.