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Cited by 495Gender, Feminism, and MediaGender and Feminist StudiesHate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection

Drinking male tears: language, the manosphere, and networked harassment

Open access
Marwick, Alice E., Caplan, Robyn·2018·Feminist Media Studies
DOI 10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568
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Abstract

While popular discourse often frames online harassment as an issue of individuals engaged in abhorrent behavior, harassing behavior is often networked in that it is coordinated and organized. When feminists and female public figures experience harassment, it often originates from members of a loose online network known as the manosphere, a set of blogs, podcasts, and forums comprised of pickup artists, men’s rights activists, anti-feminists, and fringe groups. While the particular beliefs of these groups may differ, many participants have adopted a common language. This paper explores the discourse of the manosphere and its links to online misogyny and harassment. Using critical discourse analysis, we examine the term misandry, which originates in the manosphere; trace its infiltration into more mainstream circles; and analyze its ideological and community-building functions. We pay particular attention to how this vocabulary reinforces a misogynistic ontology which paints feminism as a man-hating movement which victimizes men and boys.

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Crossref · 10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568

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44 of 44 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • In response to the rise of the feminist movement, several misogynist and anti-feminist groups have emerged.

    “In response to the rise of the feminist movement, several misogynist and anti-feminist groups have emerged (Jaki et al., 2019; Marwick & Caplan, 2018).”

    From Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, Hate Speech, and Terrorism: A Risk Assessment on the Rise of the Incel Rebellion in Canada (2023) · cites this paper as Marwick & Caplan, 2018

  • Incels' distortion of science occurs in the broader context of misinformation and disinformation, wherein communities misuse or manufacture research findings to support an ideological agenda.

    “Incels’ distortion of science occurs in the broader context of misinformation and disinformation, wherein communities misuse or manufacture research findings to support an ideological agenda (Marwick & Caplan, 2018).”

    From Stochastic Gender-Based Violence: How Incels Justify and Encourage Sexualized Violence Against Women (2025) · cites this paper as Marwick & Caplan, 2018

  • Several misogynist platforms employ 'misandry' as a buzzword to accuse feminists of discriminating against men, in discourses whose circulation drastically increased because of the networking potential of social media.

    “For instance, several misogynist platforms employ 'misandry' as a buzzword to accuse feminists of discriminating against men, in discourses whose circulation drastically increased because of the networking potential of social media.”

    From “Victims of feminism”: exploring networked misogyny and #MeToo in the manosphere (2023) · cites this paper as Alice E. Marwick and Robyn Caplan 2018

  • The manosphere is networked in spreading ideologies that criminalize women and feminism.

    “Drawing from the framework of online misogyny, (Alice E. Marwick and Robyn Caplan 2018) explain how the manosphere is networked in spreading ideologies that criminalize women and feminism.”

    From “Victims of feminism”: exploring networked misogyny and #MeToo in the manosphere (2023) · cites this paper as Alice E. Marwick and Robyn Caplan 2018

  • Incels are hostile toward both feminism and women's agency.

    “Similar to other manosphere communities (e.g., Gotell & Dutton, 2016; Marwick & Caplan, 2018; Van Valkenburgh, 2021), incels are hostile toward both feminism and women's agency.”

    From Stochastic Gender-Based Violence: How Incels Justify and Encourage Sexualized Violence Against Women (2025) · cites this paper as Marwick & Caplan, 2018

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Authors
Marwick, A. E., & Caplan, R.
Affiliations
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • Data & Society Research Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Marwick, Alice E.
ORCID
Venue
Feminist Media Studies
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2018-03-26
Volume
18
Issue
4
Pages
543-559
ISSN
  • 1468-0777 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-5902
DOI
10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568
OpenAlex
W2789889202
Cited by
495
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 86 · 2025: 77 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 70 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 1
FWCI
63.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Feminist Media Studies (publishedVersion)
  • Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
  • UNC Libraries
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Feminism, and Media
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection
Keywords
manosphere, online harassment, misandry, online misogyny, men's rights activism, anti-feminism, feminist discourse, misogyny, community building, language and ideology

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