The second day of the conference “Gender and Peace in the Balkans: Charting the Way Forward,” organized by the TPO Foundation, provided powerful insights into various forms of resistance to patriarchy, heteronormativity, and populism through literature, art, and activism. Panelists discussed the power of language, artistic expression, and feminist peace engagement in shaping social change.
Literary and Artistic Resistance to Patriarchy and Heteronormativity
Edisa Gazetić’s presentation highlighted how regressive tendencies manifest through anti-gender ideologies on social media and in public discourse. She specifically analyzed the phenomenon of young influencers advocating the retraditionalization of women’s roles, rejecting feminist values in favor of the “natural” subordination of women to men. It was emphasized that such narratives reinforce right-wing ideologies that seek to remove the concept of gender from legislation, directly threatening the rights of women and marginalized groups.
Tanja Antić spoke about language as a tool of power-it can be used to build peace, but also as a weapon of marginalization. Nationalist discourse and sensationalism in the media are often directed against the queer community, perpetuating discrimination. Through queer linguistics, language becomes a means of resistance and change.
Marjana Stevanović analyzed how populist narratives shape language policies, emphasizing the role of the media in spreading populist ideas and nationalist homogenization. In regions affected by war, language is often instrumentalized to preserve dominant ethno-nationalist structures, further endangering feminist and queer movements.
Sara Arslanagić examined the relationships between LGBTQI+ activism and hegemonic masculinities in Bosnia and Herzegovina through an intersectional feminist lens. She highlighted that post-conflict policies have disproportionately harmed marginalized groups, while decision-makers have ignored their needs and experiences.
Stories of Resistance and Women’s Peace Activism
The panel on women’s peace activism was opened by Tatjana Perić, who reminded participants of the significance of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the need for greater inclusion of women in peace processes. Linda Gusia shared the story of the women’s movement in Kosovo, highlighting feminist solidarity as a key factor in social transformation. She noted that Kosovar women took an active role in post-war community building, creating spaces for visibility and political participation.
Draga Gajić presented an analysis of feminist foreign policy and its intersection with women’s peace activism, emphasizing that Balkan feminist activists are often excluded from international policymaking despite their extensive field experience.
Alenka Verbole and Igor Gaon examined the underrepresentation of women in peace negotiations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Research showed that women are systematically excluded from key processes, while gender stereotypes continue to dominate the political space.
Anna Raffai concluded the discussion by analyzing nonviolent methods of resisting populism, stressing the importance of building democratic dialogue and actively confronting nationalist and anti-gender narratives.
War Economy and Gender Relations: Who Decides Our Security?
Keynote speaker Aida Hozić presented the work War Economy: A Feminist Perspective, highlighting that the war economy involves not only weapons production but also the militarization of everyday life, the care economy, and the humanitarian industry. The discussion raised the question of whether we are already living in a “third world war,” in which states are more focused on maintaining power than protecting against threats. Hozić emphasized that undemocratic militarization does not safeguard Europe but pushes it deeper into conflict, while women-even those in the highest political positions-are often instrumentalized for war narratives. A central question was posed: who decides what security means, and are military investments the only way to achieve it? The conclusion was that resistance is possible through strengthening transnational networks, acting in micro-spheres, and fostering collective action by feminist movements, because the alternative to passivity must not be invisibility but organized action.
Charting the Way Forward
These discussions made it clear that women and all other minority and marginalized groups in the Balkans face new challenges, yet are also developing strong strategies of resistance. Antifeminist and anti-gender movements do not emerge solely from political circles – they spread through social media, cultural policies, and populist discourses. At the same time, resistance is not merely a theoretical category but a daily practice manifested through art, language, activism, and political action.
We did not agree to be passive victims; we chose to be active agents in our own healing. Our struggle does not end with this conference-it continues through every text, every word, every action, and every act of resistance that contributes to building a more just society.
