Misogynistic and Homophobic “Banter” in UK Digitised “Lad Cultures”: Using Research and Homosocial Affect Theory in an Educational Resource to Tackle Harmful Masculine Norms

Abstract

There is a growing scholarship which focuses on the effectiveness of interventions that aim to develop men's critical awareness of harmful norms of masculinity, including those associated with misogyny and homophobia. This paper makes a unique contribution to this literature by showing how qualitative research with young (18–25 years old) cisgender heterosexual men ( n = 42) about their digital homosocial practices, alongside relevant theory, underpinned the development of an educational toolkit called #Men4Change. In the paper, we highlight how banter is a potent form of homosocial currency in British young cisgender heterosexual men’s friendship groups as part of “lad culture”, which operates in specific ways in digital spaces. For example, young cisgender heterosexual men (18–25-year-olds) are often reluctant to challenge misogynistic “banter” in the private spaces of their online homosocial chat groups (e.g., those facilitated by WhatsApp ) because they want to fit into their laddish friendship groups and benefit from the affective intensities of the groups. We show how hegemonic masculinity theory, alongside scholarship about men’s homosociality and its affective aspects, can be useful in developing gender transformative approaches which help young men challenge normalised misogyny and homophobia.