Since 2021, the term ‘woke’ is a feature in public debate in Flanders. But what does the word actually mean? Who introduced it? And why? 

Research at UAntwerpen (University of Antwerp) exposes how it is mainly ‘anti-woke’ voices that construct ‘woke’ as an imaginary enemy. ‘Woke’ thus becomes a container term in which anti-racism, gender diversity, feminism, identity politics, progressive politics and political correctness are lumped together. Effectively turning it into an empty signifier that serves mainly to evoke fear: the threat of ‘woke’ is everywhere. 

Although journalists take a more neutral stance, this same research further shows that the press helps spread the ‘anti-woke’ discourse, by capitalising on the voices that deliberately create this spectre.

That this is not an innocent debate is confirmed by Kifkif, which together with Sankaa and Hand in Hand tegen Racisme, researched online hate as a weapon to silence progressive voices, especially women and non-binary people of colour.

In collaboration with the Science Café of UAntwerpen, Spreken is Goud invites researchers Alexander Dhoest and Steve Paulussen, together with Nina Henkens of Kifkif. 

In this edition of Wetenschap Centraal, Jihad Van Puymbroeck talks to these experts about how the ‘woke’ controversy took off in Flanders, how this us/them discourse fuels polarisation and what the responsibility is of the media in this respect.