Mapping the manosphere. Categorization of reactionary masculinity discourses in digital environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT The manosphere is a fragmented group of digital communities promoting misogynist discourses. The main focus of these communities is the construction of man’s identity with reactionary gender traits and roles based on the critique of feminism and its transformative influence on society, and a victimization storytelling. Various ramifications, or subcultures, can be identified within the discursive and ideological foundations that configure these channels of reactionary masculinity, especially new emerging communities labelled Red Pill, incels and PUA, which have gathered scholars’ and media attention. However, this very diversity seems to introduce some confusion, becoming a fuzzy convergence of reactionary and antifeminist statements and attitudes. Thus, this calls for a necessary systematic clarification of the characteristics they feature. With this purpose, this article examines the traits of masculine identities found in the digital manosphere subcultures, classifying them according to the discourses they promote, the philosophy of life they adopt, the organization they have, the performance they exhibit, and the type of violence they perform against women.