What is the manosphere and why should we care?

The manosphere is an umbrella term for online communities that have increasingly promoted narrow and aggressive definitions of what it means to be a man – and the false narrative that feminism and gender equality have come at the cost of men’s rights. These communities promote the idea that emotional control, material wealth, physical appearance and dominance, especially over women, are markers of male worth.

The manosphere targets male audiences on social media, podcasts, gamer communities, dating apps and just about all digital spaces. Many participants engage with it while searching for forums to openly discuss or learn about men’s issues. But while content may appear focused on men’s self-improvement, many of these groups promote unhealthy behaviours, like instructing boys and men to build themselves up by putting others down.

Extreme content in the manosphere gains traction most among young men who feel isolated. According to UN Women partner and research group Equimundo’s “State of American Men 2023” report, two-thirds of young men feel “no one really knows me.”

The truth is, it is normal to seek community in digital spaces. Many of us build a sense of identity, nurture interests and find like-minded people online. Young men often stumble across manosphere influencers while searching for tips on fitness, dating or cryptocurrency. In the Movember Foundation survey, many said that they found the content entertaining or motivating.

The manosphere’s self-proclaimed lifestyle coaches have drawn young men in by claiming to teach personal responsibility. But ironically, instead of encouraging the self-exploration that can get to the heart of men’s challenges, they suggest men are victims of society’s misandry, meaning prejudice against men.

The UN Secretary General’s report found that the expansion of the manosphere coincides with growing conservatism among young men, which sees efforts to achieve women’s equality as discriminating against men. In a study by UN Women and the Unstereotype Alliance, younger men are more likely than older men to hold stereotypical views on gender roles.

While groups within the manosphere do not all share the same beliefs, many are united in their misogyny – a prejudice and resentment of women and girls. In many ways, the manosphere is descended from a long line of anti-feminist movements.

These major manosphere groups spread myths, pseudoscience and lies based on gender:

• Involuntary celibates (incels): believe that men are entitled to sex, and women purposefully deprive them of it. Extremist incel culture promotes rape and assault and brings together other ideologies, including racism and homophobia. Incels have been linked to acts of mass violence.
• Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs): often take an academic tone to claim that feminism and women’s rights – to vote, to education, to leadership positions – have disadvantaged men. MRA preachers suggest society is gynocentric, that is, dominated by feminine interests.
• Pick up artists (PUAs): teach members how to coerce women into sex and mock the idea of sexual consent.
• Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW) movement: suggests society is rigged against men – and that it is best to avoid women, and even mainstream society, altogether.

Other gendered hate speech in the manosphere includes: 

• Red pill ideology, or to be redpilled: means to wake up to a reality that the world favors women over men. In reference to the movie The Matrix, it suggests that people who disagree have taken the blue pill.
• AWALT: “All women are like that,” used to stereotype women.
• Femoids or FHOs: “female humanoid organism” is an insulting term meant to suggest women are not only less than men, but less than human.
• Hypergamous: used derogatorily to refer to women being obsessed with marrying “up” with men who are physically attractive and financially successful.

In the manosphere, everyone loses. Misogyny and gender inequality are harmful to men, as well as women. In a collection of global data, Equimundo found that men with restrictive gender attitudes are more likely to engage in harmful behaviours, like risk-taking and substance abuse. They are also more prone to depression and suicidal thoughts.

Gender stereotypes about men in the manosphere act as a cycle. If boys and men aren’t encouraged to speak openly about their emotions or issues, they may gravitate towards these online communities as a place to get advice on topics like relationship struggles, fatherhood, anxiety and sexual health.

Movember’s survey found that young men who actively engage with masculinity influencers:

• reported higher levels of worthlessness and nervousness
• were more likely to take performance-enhancing supplements and workout despite an injury
• were less likely to prioritize their mental health
• placed more value on wealth and popularity among their male friends

Stereotypes about women in the manosphere promote myths and hierarchies that hold women back. An international survey in support of HeForShe, a UN Women solidarity initiative for gender equality, found that Gen Z audiences are the most exposed to sexist rhetoric online. Meanwhile, younger men today are more likely to hold regressive ideas about gender roles than older men, representing a backlash that could reverse hard-won gains in gender equality.

• Spread of harmful misinformation: Equimundo found that 40 per cent of adult U.S. men surveyed, and half of younger men, say they trust one or more “men’s rights,” anti-feminist, or pro-violence voices from the manosphere.
• Sense of safety in digital spaces: HeForShe found that the majority of men (69 per cent) and women (72 per cent) are concerned about sexist rhetoric they see on social media.
• Risks of online violence: One global study found that 58 per cent of girls and young women have experienced some form of online harassment.
• Risk of radicalization: Some of the men and boys who enter manosphere forums feel alienated by mainstream society. Even if relatively few users travel down rabbit holes to more extremist content, research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) suggests the pathway is there.

UN Women and Equimundo are studying the connections between online misogyny and radicalization so that we can better respond to these risks and prevent violence against women. This work, under the ACT to end violence against women and girls programme, is generously supported by the Government of Iceland and the European Union.

Now that you’ve learned more about what the manosphere is and how it impacts adolescents, men and women, find out how we can push back against its extreme ideologies and harmful ideas of masculinity in part two of this explainer: “How to counter the manosphere’s toxic influence.”