Danfeng Soto-Vigil Koon and Huriya Jabbar
This blog post is based on the Evidence & Policy article, ‘Mama bears in the belly of the beast: Moms for Liberty disinformation campaigns in California’, part of the Evidence & Policy Special Issue: Research (Mis)use and Mis/Disinformation in and around Education.
Far-right extremism – often characterised by nativism, religious fundamentalism, White supremacy and misogyny – is on the rise worldwide. And education has become a key battleground. The thought of far-right extremism often conjures images of angry young men, but the attack on public education in the United States and associated democratic institutions (such as local and regional elected school boards) has actually been spearheaded by a highly coordinated mothers’ organisation, Moms for Liberty.
Showing up at state houses and school board meetings to oppose sex education, challenge accurate and inclusive teaching of history, ban books, accuse teachers of sexually grooming children and oust educational leaders, Moms for Liberty projects a loud voice intent on reshaping education. Research on their tactics and consequences is growing, but far less attention has been paid to how they build support through disinformation in progressive states like California, where Moms for Liberty leaders describe themselves as vanguards ‘in the belly of the beast’.
Our study situates Moms for Liberty within a longer history of far-right women’s movements in the United States and internationally. We examine their organisational structure, activities, core messages and long-term strategies.
What’s important to know about current far-right women’s movements and education in the United States?
Parent organisations like Moms for Liberty are drawing disaffected parents, particularly mothers, into the far-right movement. They do this by bridging common parental concerns with far-right critiques of public education. In one podcast, for example, Moms for Liberty linked parental concerns about children’s poor mental health in school with anti-corporate grievances about the educational industry, ultimately arguing that a leftist takeover of schools is creating ‘gender dysphoria’ and a mental health crisis for profits. Their proposed solutions include homeschooling, other alternative education options and voting in ultra-conservative candidates.
In California, Moms for Liberty chapters further radicalise parents by connecting them to White Christian nationalist messages and messengers through podcasts, speakers, newsletters, conferences and rallies. These narratives declare the Bible is the only truth, cast secularism as a diabolical religion, define the United States as a Christian nation, and depict leftist ideology as a threat to children, families and civilisation. As a result, radicalised mothers see themselves as committed warriors in a long-term battle for the future of the nation.
They are not retreating. When told they are fighting a losing battle in California, the belly of the beast, Moms for Liberty leaders responded, ‘No, we’re the tip of the spear’. Their long-term strategies include recruiting and radicalising more churches, presenting themselves as nonpartisan and less bigoted to attract moderates, and using anti-corporate, anti-trans and anti-communist framing to bridge racial and religious divides. This messaging appeals to potential strategic allies, such as anti-trans and anti-communist communities of colour, as well as anti-elitist libertarians). At the same time, they seek to convince extremist factions on the far right to accept incremental change.
What can be done?
Inform ourselves and others about the source of attacks on the freedom to learn. In these politically charged times, school communities need opportunities to learn about the organisations and ideas behind these attacks. When Moms for Liberty or similar groups show up to pull books off library shelves, harass teachers, and block the teaching of accurate history or controversial topics, it is important to understand that these are not simply local parents voicing concerns. They are part of a national network that has weaponized parents’ rights to remove learning opportunities that research consistently shows benefit young people.
From the boardroom to the classroom, defend and advance the evidence-based teaching practices and programmes that we know support children’s development. Culturally responsive, inclusive curricula and programmes that engage young people in learning, thinking and reflecting upon themselves and their world strengthen not only individual children, but also their families, the wider community, democracy and society. For the young people in our classrooms, we need to keep providing these opportunities and defending their importance.
Image credit: Photo by Gaspar Uhas on Unsplash
Read the original research in Evidence & Policy:
Koon, D.S.V. Jabbar, H. Combs, K. McDavitt, M. Malone, T. & Leyva, T. (2025). Mama bears in the belly of the beast: Moms for Liberty disinformation campaigns in California. Evidence & Policy. DOI: 10.1332/17442648Y2025D000000071.
If you enjoyed this blog post, you may also be interested in reading:
The influence of public policy and administration expertise on policy: an empirical study
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this blog site are solely those of the original blog post authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Policy Press and/or any/all contributors to this site.