Abstract

The Manosphere is a sprawling network of online communities that perpetuates anti-feminist, misogynistic, hypermasculine ideologies, and otherwise toxic beliefs that shape discourse around gender and identity. This study examines the rhetoric used by prominent Manosphere “elites” and analyzes audience engagement with their content. Through a qualitative content analysis of four influential Manosphere figures and their comment sections, this research identifies recurring themes, including mockery and derision, misogyny and stereotyping, gender essentialism, victimhood narrative, and the emasculation of liberal men. These findings reveal that these influencers cultivate rigid gender norms, dehumanize women, and reinforce grievances among male followers, fostering a culture of resentment and potential radicalization. Audience responses mirror and amplify these messages, demonstrating the Manosphere’s function as an echo chamber that validates toxic masculinity and social exclusion. By engaging with sociological theories such as Goffman’s Interaction Order, West and Zimmerman’s Doing Gender, and Kimmel’s Aggrieved Entitlement, this study contextualizes the Manosphere’s broader ideological and social impact. Understanding the Manosphere and the discursive strategies that make it run offers broader insight into digital radicalization, online socialization, and the reinforcement of harmful conceptions of gender.

Advisor

Miyawaki, Michael

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Gender and Sexuality | Other Sociology | Politics and Social Change | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Sociology | Sociology of Culture

Keywords

Manosphere, Gender, Masculinity, Femininity, Feminism, Politics, Gender Essentialism, Victimhood, Mockery, Misogyny

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2025 Ciaran R. Dwyer