Judith Butler, the pioneering philosopher who redefined how we view gender and sexuality, confronts the attacks on gender that have become central to today's right-wing movements. Global networks have formed "anti-gender ideological movements" dedicated to promoting the fantasy that gender poses a grave threat to families, local cultures, civilization—even to "the human being" itself. Fueled by the rhetoric of public figures, this movement has sought to abolish reproductive justice, undermine protections from violence, and strip transgender and queer people of their rights. But what exactly is it about gender that troubles us? In this vital and courageous book, Butler carefully examines how "gender" has become a specter for emerging authoritarian regimes, fascist formations, and trans-exclusionary feminisms, and the concrete ways in which this illusion operates. Working alongside the deceptive narratives of critical race theory and xenophobic panics about immigration, the anti-gender movement demonizes struggles for equality and leaves millions vulnerable to subjugation. Who's Afraid of Gender? is an essential intervention into one of the most contentious issues of our time, a bold call for a broad alliance with all those fighting for equality and combating injustice. By envisioning new possibilities for freedom and solidarity, Butler offers us a work of hope at its core, one that is both timely and timeless.