Even very young boys are starting to copy the sexist behaviour they observe online, says 13-year-old Olivia Millar, and something needs to be done about it, urgently.
Louis Theroux’s recent TV documentary Inside the manosphere has got people talking about the horrors that are unleashed when misogyny takes centre stage.
The manosphere is a community that claims to be focused on resolving “men’s struggles” through lifestyle advice.
However, in reality, its members share values, opinions and actions that aggressively promote misogyny, inequality, homophobia, discrimination and sexism, all of which impact negatively on society.
Some of the most influential figures in this community include Andrew Tate, an entrepreneur who first gained popularity on social media and who then ran a platform called The Real World (formerly known as Hustlers university), which ran courses on money-making, cryptocurrency and fitness.
Tate is facing multiple legal charges, including rape and human trafficking.
Another member of the manosphere is Myron Gaines, known for co-hosting the Fresh and Fit Podcast, the content of which has been criticised widely for its incredibly dehumanising comments towards female guests. Gaines has also authored a book entitled Why Women Deserve Less.
Justin Waller, a manosphere influencer who worked alongside Andrew Tate (above), and was heavily involved with The Real World online business school, promotes the idea of “one-sided monogamy”, where a woman has one partner and men are allowed to have as many as they want.
These are only a few of the unbearable figures comprising the manosphere.
The manosphere purports to base itself on a number of ideologies or beliefs. One of these is the “Red Pill Ideology” an expression which originates from the 1999 film, The Matrix.
In certain online subcultures, taking the red pill symbolises an awakening to a perceived reality where women hold disproportionate power. This narrative suggests that women have caused significant harm to men who, as victims, feel silenced.
It is within this framework that incel culture finds its footing.The word incel blends the words “involuntary” and “celibate”. Incels are considered to be on the most extreme and violent end of the manosphere where men believe that women are the root of all problems; that men are entitled to use women’s bodies as and when they want, and that men are the superior sex.
Essentially the manosphere is built on anti-feminist, misogynistic views, rigid gender roles and male entitlement. Members have a collective anger towards women, who are blamed for a man’s social or personal weaknesses.
Although social media platforms say they do what they can to stop these horrific views from reaching public audiences, it is getting to the point where it can no longer be overlooked; many young boys are beginning to look up to these incredibly harmful but unfortunately influential figures.
And this is leading to disrespect towards girls and women in schools. In fact, a recent article in The Guardian about the rise of misogyny in schools1, notes that boys are “aping the behaviour of figures such as Donald Trump and Andrew Tate after exposure through social media and online gaming”.
The article mentions how a primary school teacher has experienced having boys refuse to speak to her simply because of her gender. These boys were 10, proving just how dire this situation really is.
Boys so young are beginning to replicate the behaviour they see online from misogynist influencers.
Something must be done; misogyny can no longer be accepted into our society and must not be tolerated.
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