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Cited by 58Gender, Feminism, and MediaPopulism, Right-Wing MovementsGender and Feminist Studies

The role of evidence-based misogyny in antifeminist online communities of the ‘manosphere’

Open access
Rothermel, Ann-Kathrin·2023·Big Data & Society
DOI 10.1177/20539517221145671
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Abstract

In recent years, there have been a growing number of online and offline attacks linked to a loosely connected network of misogynist and antifeminist online communities called ‘the manosphere’. Since 2016, the ideas spread among and by groups of the manosphere have also become more closely aligned with those of other Far-Right online networks. In this commentary, I explore the role of what I term ‘evidence-based misogyny’ for mobilization and radicalization into the antifeminist and misogynist subcultures of the manosphere. Evidence-based misogyny is a discursive strategy, whereby members of the manosphere refer to (and misinterpret) knowledge in the form of statistics, studies, news items and pop-culture and mimic accepted methods of knowledge presentation to support their essentializing, polarizing views about gender relations in society. Evidence-based misogyny is a core aspect for manosphere-related mobilization as it provides a false sense of authority and forges a collective identity, which is framed as a supposed ‘alternative’ to mainstream gender knowledge. Due to its core function to justify and confirm the misogynist sentiments of users, evidence-based misogyny serves as connector between the manosphere and both mainstream conservative as well as other Far-Right and conspiratorial discourses.

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  • The ideological interconnectedness between right-wing politics and manosphere groups has been established.

    “The ideological interconnectedness between right-wing politics and manosphere groups has been established (Mamié et al., 2021; Rothermel, 2023).”

    From Mainstreaming the Blackpill: Understanding the Incel Community on TikTok (2023) · cites this paper as Rothermel, 2023

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Authors
Rothermel, A.-K.
Affiliations
University of Potsdam (DE)
Corresponding author
Rothermel, Ann-Kathrin
ORCID
Rothermel, Ann-Kathrin
Venue
Big Data & Society
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2023-01
Volume
10
Issue
1
ISSN
2053-9517 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1177/20539517221145671
OpenAlex
W4319320468
Cited by
58
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 1
FWCI
24.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Big Data & Society (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • publish.UP (University of Potsdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Open Access CRIS of the University of Bern
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Feminism, and Media
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Populism, Right-Wing Movements
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
Keywords
manosphere, anti-feminism, misogyny, online communities, radicalization, mobilization, far-right discourse, gender essentialism, collective identity, misuse of statistics, conservative discourse

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