What Parents and Teachers Need to Know about the Manosphere

It cannot be denied that the internet, in all its many forms, is a core part of modern life. Social media, blogs, websites and forums have slowly become communal spaces with as much social importance and influence as face-to-face interactions. Whilst many people can find supportive communities and fulfilling relationships within these spaces, many online communities share harmful, extremist views which slowly radicalise individuals. The manosphere is one such example of an online arena that has become a breeding ground for extremist views. 

News stories of violent attacks against young women have unfortunately become commonplace and this has encouraged an exploration into the manosphere and the harm that it can cause. Many communities within the manosphere promote themselves as being positive influences for young men. However, as young men become more involved with this type of content they become bombarded with increasingly extremist content. This pipeline sees boys adopt bigoted outlooks as they are sucked into an echo chamber in which misogynistic rhetoric abounds and is never challenged. 

As the insidious influence of the manosphere continues to grow, it’s important for parents and teachers to have an understanding of its impact so that they can protect the children in their care. In this article we will explore what the manosphere is, why it appeals to young men and what you can do to help prevent children from being drawn into the manosphere. 

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What is the Manosphere?

The manosphere is an umbrella term for an online community of websites, forums, blogs and social media accounts that focus on issues related to men, masculinity and men’s role in society. The manosphere emerged in the early 2000s as an online space for men to discuss their lived experiences and desire for self-improvement. However, what began as a means for men to create community has evolved into a dangerous arena in which many men freely share misogynistic, racist and bigoted views. 

It can be helpful to think of the manosphere as a mentality from which numerous different groups have formed. For example, ‘involuntary celibates,’ also known as incels, are a group of men who believe that they have been ‘denied’ sexual or romantic relationships and that women are to blame for this.

Incel culture has a very specific set of views and opinions as well as coded language to derogatorily refer to women, different races and even other men. Incels are one of the most prominent groups within the manosphere and other popular groups include Pick Up Artists (PUAs), Men Going their Own Way (MGTOWs) and Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs). Whilst these groups may have their own nuances and slightly different focuses, they are all rooted in the same misogynistic views that blame women and feminism for problems within society. 

Many men who become engaged with the manosphere initially do so in a bid to find community and self-improvement tips. However, many of these groups promote unhealthy behaviours and the idea that physical dominance, emotional control and material wealth are the sole markers of a man’s worth. This reduction of the male identity can exacerbate pre-existing low self-esteem thereby encouraging young men to build themselves up by putting others, particularly women, down. 

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Why Does the Manosphere Appeal to Boys?

The manosphere is a vast online community composed of numerous different groups discussing a wide range of topics. These topics can include health and fitness, gaming, politics, finance, music, film and TV, all of which can easily appeal to boys. As mentioned, many men do not go out of their way to become involved with the manosphere. For many young people, indoctrination begins slowly through their involvement with online forums, websites and blogs on other topics. These topics may then become increasingly misogynistic or open the door for other misogynistic content. 

For example, a young man may come across an online group discussing a video game that he likes. He might enjoy engaging with this community, talking to them about the games he likes playing and looking ahead at what new games will be out soon. Over time others within the group may start to share views that come across as ‘self-improvement tips.’ This advice could range from fitness tips to romantic advice and may appear very innocent at first. However, the advice shared may become more extreme and have increasingly less to do with the original topic. As the young boy sinks further into the echo chamber, in which misogynistic views are shared freely, often go unchallenged and are presented as justification for shared problems, he may inadvertently adopt the same views. 

Many boys are also drawn to the manosphere because of the popularity of online influencers. Social media plays a significant part in modern life and whilst there have been differing views on the benefits of banning it for young people, it’s undeniable that it is an intrinsic part of their life. As such, popular creators on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram can be dangerously influential and their popularity can make it easy for young men to take their views as gospel and believe them without question.

When young men are repeatedly bombarded with videos that have millions of views and share extreme right-wing or misogynistic ideology, it can be impossible to ignore. Moreover, many online influencers claim that their successes in life are due to their lifestyle and opinions on the world. When these influencers then share images of expensive cars and luxurious holidays it can seemingly validate their outlook on what a successful man looks like. This in turn encourages young men to mimic the behaviours they have seen in order to enjoy a similar level of ‘success.’ 

When the manosphere first began in the early 2000s it was a space in which men could find common ground with other men. It could be argued that a desire for community was at the heart of the manosphere’s genesis and that a large part of its appeal was that it helped to alleviate the loneliness that many men were experiencing. This is also true for young boys. Those who feel isolated at school and have limited in-person interactions with their peers can easily find community online. Whilst this isn’t inherently negative, this loneliness can fuel the appeal of the manosphere, presenting a space in which a lonely young boy can find community and a reason for why he feels so lonely. In his examination of the appeal of the manosphere, clinical psychologist Dr. Mandeep Bachu notes that boys and young men typically look outward to understand what kind of man to become. The most popular voices within the manosphere are those that speak with unquestionable authority and self-confidence. For boys who are struggling with various insecurities this can be incredibly appealing and present a route for them to attain a similar self-confidence.

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Why is the Manosphere Dangerous? 

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) has been described as a national emergency by ministers in the UK. A woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK and VAWG makes up around 20% of all recorded crime in England and Wales. Often when people think about violence against women and girls they think of the ‘extreme’ examples of sexual assault and murder. However, this mentality doesn’t begin with physical violence and it is often the culmination of months or years of radicalisation in online spaces that justify and encourage extremely misogynistic views. 

The rape culture pyramid is a framework that highlights how the justification of certain behaviours can eventually lead to sexual violence. When explicit jokes, unwanted touch and victim blaming are excused as ‘locker room talk’ or simply ‘boys being boys,’ gender-based violence is normalised. This perpetuates rape culture as gender-based violence is actively made ‘acceptable.’ Online spaces within the manosphere frequently excuse rape culture behaviours or even encourage the escalation of these behaviours as ‘proof’ of a boy’s manhood. The minimisation of the impact of this violence can result in boys perpetrating violent acts as their misogyny goes unchecked and unchallenged.

As mentioned, some people who engage with the manosphere may not have set out with the intention to do so. Nevertheless, the insidious nature of the manosphere can result in young men following a pathway that leads to toxic, misogynistic views. For young boys this can result in their attitudes towards their female peers and female teachers slowly corrupting, resulting in verbal and physical abuse. However, it is not only women who experience this harm and it’s important to note that the manosphere is also incredibly harmful to the boys and young men who engage with it.

Incel culture is notorious for peddling a nihilistic outlook and those who have taken the ‘black pill’ often have a bleak outlook that society will never change and that their life will never improve. For boys who struggle with their mental health, feel isolated and alone or who struggle to feel optimistic for the future, this can exacerbate feelings of hopelessness. Self-harm and suicidal ideation are commonplace amongst incels and seeking support for mental health issues is actively discouraged within the community.   

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What Can Parents and Teachers Do? 

The prevalence of the manosphere can make it feel impossible to challenge. Misogynistic views are freely shared online and many young people have immediate and unfiltered access to the internet whenever they want. Moreover, the popularity and seemingly untouchability of certain manosphere influencers can make it difficult to convey to young people that their outlook on the world is harmful. Nevertheless, parents and teachers are well positioned to challenge the views pushed by the manosphere and prevent children from being sucked into that world. 

Below you will find some tips on what parents and teachers can do to have impactful conversations about the manosphere and its potential for harm. When talking to a young person about the manosphere it’s vital that you approach the interaction with empathy and ensure that you are listening actively. If a child feels as though they are being lectured for something they have done wrong they are less likely to listen and this may in fact push them further into the manosphere. Instead, see the interaction as a mutually beneficial way for you to explain why these views are harmful and to understand their individual experiences with the manosphere.

To support young men and boys parents and teachers can:

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What began as a means to build community has undeniably evolved into a dangerous playing field which is harmful to both men and women. The manosphere has the potential to radicalise young men, incite violence and exacerbate underlying mental health issues. Many young people are slowly drawn into this space and indoctrinated with misogynistic content that twists their perception of the world around them. However, through targeted education, compassion and understanding, this outlook can be challenged and a more hopeful view of the world and a mutually respectful view of women can be obtained.

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Further Resources:

• Misogyny in Schools: Guidance for Teachers
• How to Tackle Incel Culture in Schools
• CPD Courses for Teaching and Education