The rise of the online “Manosphere” is sparking fears of a new rise in misogynist behaviour and violence against women.
Researchers have pointed to an “alarming increase” in sexual harassment and other harmful behaviours by boys in classrooms that is “unmistakably” derived from Manosphere content.
The Manosphere is a term used to describe a collection of influencers and websites that trumpet anti-feminist and masculinist ideology.
Deputy Director of the Monash (University) Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre Dr Naomi Pfitzner said the increased influence of misogynistic discourses in schools was particularly worrying.
“Young boys and men are increasingly absorbing misogynistic narratives online, which can shape their views on gender equality and masculinity, potentially leading to future harm and violence,” Dr Pfitzner said.
“We are at a critical juncture for addressing the links between misogyny and men’s use of gender-based violence.”
Dr Pfitzner today announced a new project to support secondary school teachers to tackle the influence of these harmful online ideologies on young boys and men.
The two year project, funded by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), is a collaboration between Monash Arts and Education Faculties to establish school-based early intervention programs to identify and tackle the impact of online misogyny and gender-based violence in schools.
Dr Pfitzner said the research-backed project aimed to prevent dangerous ideologies from taking root and to support teachers in creating safer, more equitable classrooms.
In a statement, Monash said online “manfluencers” were promoting harmful ideologies around sexism and misogyny which were filtering through to boys’ and young men’s behaviour in the classroom.
“These men represent a broader online community, sometimes called the ‘Manosphere’: a loosely connected network of websites and social media communities characterised by masculinist ideology, anti-feminist rhetoric and gender-based discrimination.,” the statement said.
Co-Chief Investigator Dr Stephanie Wescott, from the Monash Faculty of Education, said the new project would form a crucial part of supporting teachers to tackle misogynistic discourses in their classrooms and creating safer spaces.
“Australian women teachers have described an alarming increase in sexual harassment and other harmful behaviours by boys in classrooms, often linked to narratives and ideologies unmistakably derived from manosphere content,” Dr Wescott said.
“We need effective strategies for teachers to challenge this harmful masculinist ideology that reinforces violence supportive beliefs online, in the classroom and beyond.”
The researchers hope the findings and outcomes from the project will go beyond classrooms, contributing to national, state and territory policy planning to reduce the prevalence and impact of gender-based violence.
