In today’s digital era, when over 5 billion people rely on the internet and social media as their primary communication tools, a report by Equipop and the Gender in Geopolitics Institute raises the alarm about the insidious spread of misogynistic and masculinists ideologies online. Anti-feminist ideas are proliferating across these platforms, making it crucial to alert decision-makers to the dangers of this digital age.
A MULTIFACETED MOVEMENT THAT THREATENS WOMEN AND THE LGBTI+
Masculinism is an ideology that opposes the emancipation of women and LGBTQ+ individuals, promoting male domination. It is characterized by the belief that men face a “crisis of masculinity,” caused by the advancement of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, which supposedly affects their quality of life. This ideology positions men as victims of so-called “feminine domination,” glorifying masculinity as aggressive, virile, and subjugating women. Masculinists are often linked to ultraconservative, far-right, and white supremacist ideologies. Historian Christine Bard explains that “masculinist discourse reveals a strong intersectionality of hate, where misogyny, virilism, LGBT-phobia, antisemitism, and Islamophobia converge.”
Masculinists are not a homogeneous group; they’re divided into various factions, sometimes even contradicting one another. The most well-known of these are the Incels, or “involuntary celibates,” who blame women and society for their lack of romantic success.
France TV made a documentary about this complex movement. Check it out! (available in French)
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET AS A WHOLE: A PLAYGROUND FOR MISOGYNISTS
Masculinist ideologies have managed to spread widely online, largely due to a lack of regulation on digital platforms. Feminists, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals often face harassment, and threats, and are silenced, while masculinists gain significant traction. Algorithms only further amplify violent and extremist content. The report shows that the virality of such content, which boosts profits for digital platforms, means these companies have little interest in moderating or restricting it. The popularity of the “manosphere,” or the online space dominated by masculinists, easily spreads to users—even those who aren’t actively seeking out such content.
While online harassment is the primary tactic used by masculinists, some escalate their actions into real-world violence. The 2014 Isla Vista attack in California is a grim example. On May 23rd, 22-year-old Incel Elliott Rodger carried out a mass shooting, killing six people and injuring 14, after posting a video online explaining his hatred for women. He took his own life afterward.
THE DANGEROUS ALLIANCE BETWEEN MASCULINISTS, FAR-RIGHT MOVEMENTS, AND ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE GROUPS
This movement is bolstered by a backlash against feminist and LGBTQ+ demands, and by the rise of far-right and conservative groups in power across the globe. Since control is traditionally associated with virility and masculinity, many world leaders reflect masculinist ideals. Vladimir Putin, Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi are notable examples, of using force and aggression as their main political tools.
Feminist organizations are on the frontlines in challenging this rhetoric, but they also face constant threats and a wave of hatred. Across the world, they are frequent targets of coordinated cyber-attacks, which severely affect activists’ mental health, work, and safety.
AS A SOCIETY, HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THIS RISING ISSUE?
To counter the growing influence of these groups and curb violence, Equipop and the Gender in Geopolitics Institute offer recommendations to European Union member states, which are also applicable globally. They suggest five key areas of action: strengthening legal, political, and financial measures against gender-based violence, integrating these efforts into digital public policies, regulating multinational tech companies, supporting feminist organizations, and educating the public about misogynistic discourse.