FH S4E9: Women and the Far Right with Heidi Beirich

Warning: This episode contains disturbing themes and bigoted language. Listener discretion is advised.

This episode may not be a very joyful one, but it is fascinating and urgent—possibly more urgent than ever. My guest is Dr. Heidi Beirich, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at the nonprofit organization Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.

Heidi is an international expert on the far right. Our conversation focused on the role of women within anti-democratic movements and the relationship between feminism, misogyny, and extremism. We talk about what it means for women globally that far-right political candidates are gaining power in countries around the world, including the U.S. And we explore the uncomfortable question: How does the supportive role white women play in white nationalist movements mirror the role white women have played in supporting white supremacy throughout history?

Stuff We Talked About on This Episode

Global Project Against Hate and Extremism

Cynthia Miller Idriss

Kathleen Belew

Mia Bloom

White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad

“White Women Were Colonisers Too. To Move Forward, We Have to Stop Letting Them Off the Hook.” by Ruby Hamad