Men Who Hate Women - From Incels to Pickup Artists

1. The Manosphere: A Network of Misogynistic Online Communities

"Imagine a world in which tens of thousands of women are raped, beaten, mutilated, abused or murdered every year, because of the simple fact that they are women."

The manosphere is real and dangerous. It consists of interconnected online communities united by their hatred of women and feminism. These groups include incels, pickup artists, Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW), and Men's Rights Activists (MRAs). They share common beliefs about male superiority, female inferiority, and the perceived threat of feminism to male dominance.

The impact is far-reaching. Despite often being dismissed as fringe groups, these communities have millions of followers and significant real-world influence. They contribute to:

• Normalizing misogynistic attitudes
• Radicalizing vulnerable men and boys
• Inspiring acts of violence against women
• Influencing mainstream discourse on gender issues

The manosphere's ideology has seeped into popular culture, politics, and media, often going unrecognized but profoundly shaping societal attitudes towards women and gender equality.

2. Incels: Men Who Hate Women and Blame Them for Their Involuntary Celibacy

"Following the Isla Vista massacre, a subreddit called 'Elliot Rodger Fans' was quickly created, though it was banned by Reddit soon afterwards."

Incels represent the most violent corner of the manosphere. These men believe they are involuntarily celibate due to women's shallow nature and society's unfair sexual marketplace. They often express extreme hatred towards women and sexually active men, whom they call "Chads."

The incel ideology has led to real-world violence. Notable examples include:

• Elliot Rodger's 2014 Isla Vista massacre (6 killed, 14 injured)
• Alek Minassian's 2018 Toronto van attack (10 killed, 16 injured)
• Scott Beierle's 2018 Tallahassee yoga studio shooting (2 killed, 5 injured)

Incel forums frequently glorify these killers as "heroes" and encourage others to follow their example. The community's toxic blend of self-pity, entitlement, and hatred makes it a breeding ground for extremism and violence.

3. Pickup Artists: Exploiting and Manipulating Women for Sexual Conquest

"We are talking about an industry that exploits men's worst fears, preys on their vulnerabilities and literally trains them in harassment, stalking and even sexual assault."

Pickup artistry is a lucrative industry based on manipulating women. Pickup artists (PUAs) sell courses, books, and seminars teaching men how to seduce women through psychological manipulation and often borderline abusive tactics. This industry, valued at an estimated $100 million, preys on men's insecurities while promoting harmful attitudes towards women.

PUA techniques often border on or cross into sexual harassment and assault. Common tactics include:

• "Negging": insulting women to lower their self-esteem
• "Kino escalation": unwanted physical touching
• Overcoming "last-minute resistance": ignoring clear refusals of consent

These practices normalize predatory behavior and contribute to a culture of sexual violence. Many prominent PUAs have been accused of or admitted to sexual assault, yet continue to profit from their "teachings."

4. MGTOW: Men Going Their Own Way to Avoid Women Entirely

"Men Going Their Own Way choose to eschew relationships with women altogether. They are, literally, going their own way. Far, far away from any women. At all."

MGTOW advocate for male separatism from women. This group believes that modern society is biased against men and that involvement with women inevitably leads to exploitation and harm. They promote various levels of disengagement, from avoiding romantic relationships to complete social isolation.

The movement has real-world consequences. MGTOW ideology:

• Reinforces negative stereotypes about women
• Discourages healthy relationships between genders
• Can lead to social isolation and mental health issues for adherents
• Has been linked to workplace discrimination against women

While MGTOW may seem less immediately threatening than other manosphere groups, its promotion of extreme gender separation contributes to broader misogynistic attitudes in society.

5. Men's Rights Activists: Claiming Victimhood While Undermining Women's Rights

"MRAs are about as focused on men's rights as defence contractors are invested in maintaining peace."

MRAs falsely portray men as victims of systemic oppression. While claiming to advocate for men's issues, MRAs primarily focus on attacking feminism and women's rights. They often use misleading statistics and cherry-picked examples to argue that men are disadvantaged in modern society.

MRA tactics often harm the men they claim to support. For example:

• Focusing on false rape accusations (which are rare) rather than supporting male survivors of sexual assault
• Opposing domestic violence shelters for women instead of advocating for more resources for male victims
• Promoting outdated gender stereotypes that harm both men and women

MRAs have gained significant media attention and political influence, despite their arguments being based on flawed premises and misrepresented data. Their work often undermines efforts to address genuine issues affecting men, such as mental health stigma and toxic masculinity.

6. Online Trolls: Weaponizing Social Media to Harass and Silence Women

"When we tell women to simply switch off, or spend less time online, or stop visiting certain websites, what we are really saying is that they, not their harassers, should suffer the negative consequences of trolling."

Online harassment is a form of gender-based violence. Trolls, often associated with manosphere communities, use social media platforms to target women with abuse, threats, and coordinated harassment campaigns. This behavior aims to silence women's voices and drive them out of online spaces.

The impact of online harassment is severe and far-reaching. Consequences include:

• Psychological trauma for victims
• Self-censorship and withdrawal from online discourse
• Professional and economic harm when women are forced offline
• Chilling effect on women's participation in public life and politics

Social media companies have been slow to address this issue effectively, often placing the burden on victims to protect themselves rather than tackling the root causes of harassment.

7. The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Terrorist Acts

"If terrorism is a means of attempting to exert control and wield power by creating fear, then, at a micro or individual level, it precisely describes domestic abuse."

Many mass killers and terrorists have a history of domestic violence. This connection, long ignored by law enforcement and media, reveals how misogyny and violence against women can escalate into broader acts of terror. Examples include:

• Omar Mateen (Pulse nightclub shooting)
• Devin Patrick Kelley (Sutherland Springs church shooting)
• Khalid Masood (2017 Westminster attack)

Recognizing this link is crucial for prevention. By taking domestic violence more seriously and understanding its connection to other forms of extremism, society could:

• Identify potential terrorists earlier
• Provide better support for domestic violence survivors
• Address the root causes of both intimate partner violence and terrorism

This perspective challenges the notion of terrorism as solely motivated by political or religious ideology, highlighting the role of misogyny in many acts of mass violence.

8. Mainstream Media and Politicians Amplifying Manosphere Ideology

"Even the word we use to describe women-hating communities encapsulates this attitude perfectly. Beyond the occasional news report or small-circle conversations within feminist activist spheres, most of us do not know about the sprawling web of groups, belief systems, lifestyles and cults that this book will unravel. Those who do know describe it as the 'manosphere'."

Manosphere ideas have infiltrated mainstream discourse. Politicians, media figures, and academics often unknowingly (or sometimes deliberately) amplify misogynistic talking points originating from extreme online communities. This process lends credibility to harmful ideas and exposes them to a wider audience.

Examples of mainstream amplification include:

• Political figures like Donald Trump and Mike Pence echoing manosphere rhetoric
• Media outlets giving platforms to MRAs and PUAs under the guise of "balance"
• Academic figures like Jordan Peterson promoting ideas aligned with manosphere ideology
• Social media algorithms promoting extremist content to wider audiences

This mainstreaming of misogynistic ideas normalizes harmful attitudes towards women and undermines efforts to achieve gender equality.

9. Social Media Algorithms: Inadvertently Promoting Extremist Content

"70 per cent of all YouTube videos watched are recommended by the platform's algorithm."

Social media algorithms inadvertently promote extremist content. Platforms like YouTube, designed to maximize user engagement, often lead viewers down a rabbit hole of increasingly radical content. This process can expose vulnerable individuals, particularly young men, to manosphere ideology without them actively seeking it out.

The algorithmic rabbit hole works as follows:

1. User watches a relatively mainstream video about gender issues
2. Algorithm recommends slightly more extreme content
3. User clicks on recommended video, signaling interest
4. Algorithm serves increasingly radical content
5. User becomes gradually exposed to and potentially convinced by extremist ideas

This process of algorithmic radicalization is a key factor in the spread of manosphere ideology, especially among young people who may not be aware of the biases in the content they're consuming.

10. Radicalizing Young Men: Targeting Vulnerable Boys Through Online Platforms

"Anglin has written about how he had no background in white nationalism before 2011, and became politicised 'mainly on 4chan'."

The manosphere deliberately targets young men and boys. Extremist communities recognize the vulnerability of adolescents and young adults who are forming their identities and worldviews. They use various online platforms to reach and indoctrinate these potential recruits.

Tactics for radicalizing young men include:

• Using memes and humor to make extremist ideas seem appealing and harmless
• Exploiting gaming communities and chat platforms to reach young audiences
• Presenting misogynistic ideas as "forbidden knowledge" or "red pills"
• Offering a sense of community and belonging to isolated or insecure individuals

This targeted radicalization poses a serious threat to young men's development and contributes to the perpetuation of misogynistic attitudes in future generations.

11. The Need for Recognition and Action Against Misogynistic Extremism

"So we cannot confront the real threat these groups pose unless we are prepared to look it directly in the eye."

Misogynistic extremism must be recognized as a form of terrorism. Despite clear evidence of its dangers, violence against women and misogynistic ideologies are often not treated with the same seriousness as other forms of extremism. This oversight allows these harmful ideas to spread and escalate unchecked.

Steps needed to address misogynistic extremism:

• Include misogyny in counter-terrorism and anti-radicalization efforts
• Hold social media companies accountable for promoting extremist content
• Improve education about online radicalization and gender equality
• Increase funding for research into misogynistic extremism
• Develop better support systems for those at risk of radicalization

By recognizing the serious threat posed by misogynistic extremism and taking concrete action to combat it, society can work towards creating a safer and more equal world for all genders.

Last updated: November 24, 2024