Online misogyny: the “manosphere”

 A growing number of men spread hateful ideas about women, trans and nonbinary folks online. Some internet communities even encourage and celebrate gender‐based violence. How did we get here? Why do some men and boys get drawn into – and even seek out – extremist influencers and groups?

What motivates the manosphere?

Sexist ideas and organized male bigotry are nothing new. The fight for gender equity has faced backlash from men’s rights activists for decades. They often draw on very real concerns:

  • Changes in the global economy have reduced the security and availability of many traditionally “manly” jobs.
  • Gains in gender equality and 2SLGBTQI+ rights are challenging and changing traditional ideas about gender roles. Some men find these shifts unsettling. They are dealing with new social expectations. They are being asked to share power and privilege for the first time.
  • Men have high (and rising) rates of mental health problems, including loneliness, depression and suicide.

These are all complex issues. They result from decades of political, economic and technological change. But the manosphere blames them all on women.

Misogynist incels

Incel culture evolved in reaction to the pick‐up artist community. One of the largest early incel forums (since shut down) was PUAhate.com. PUAs believe that learning special techniques will lead to more sexual conquests. In contrast, incels see themselves as doomed to loneliness and misery. This has made incel culture distinctively hateful.

The word "incel" is a contraction of "involuntary celibate." Incels are almost exclusively straight men who have been unsuccessful in finding relationships with women. Many of them discover incel forums and websites while seeking support for their feelings of sadness and alienation. From there, they are drawn into a world of despair and anger.

Incel culture is violently antifeminist and misogynist. Incels often describe women as subhuman objects of desire who are hated and resented because – incels claim – feminism has given women power over sex and romance.

Male supremacist ideas also harm the men who believe them. Men today suffer from an increasing burden of mental illness, including depression and anxiety. Many young men are insecure and lonely but unsure how to ask for help or work through their experiences. The rigid masculine values championed in the manosphere demand they stay independent and stoic at all costs. This leaves them isolated and suffering in silence.

https://humanrights.ca/story/online-misogyny-manosphere


(And someone is bound to suggest they all follow Trump too, amirite?)


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