Manosphere and online misogyny should be treated as public health issues, say UK experts
Report calls for an effort to tackle harms in similar way to obesity and smoking, and stresses need to ‘offer boys something better’ The manosphere and online misogyny should be treated by the government as a public health issue, in the same way as obesity or smoking, experts have said. Writing in the Lancet, the authors of a new report argue that a coordinated response is needed, involving…
The UK experts argue that the manosphere and online misogyny should be addressed as a public health issue, akin to obesity or smoking, according to a new report published in the Lancet. Co-authors Prof Kent Buse and Prof Sarah Hawkes propose a coordinated response involving governments, schools, health services, and community organizations, similar to the approach taken for tobacco use and ultra-processed foods.
The manosphere is defined as a diffuse commercial ecosystem and loose collection of online communities united by shared beliefs about masculinity, misogyny, and male victimisation. This online industry has evolved into a lucrative business model that profits from promoting extreme misogyny and aggrieved masculinity.
Prof Buse, co-founder of the social justice thinktank Global 50/50, emphasizes that this is not a fringe issue but a business model that rewards outrage and grievance. He stresses the need for public health to use its tested toolkit for commercial harms, rather than blaming individuals or calling for regulation as an attack on freedom.
The authors also highlight the growing disengagement from education among boys worldwide, as well as loneliness, money worries, and social exclusion. These factors can make young men more vulnerable to online communities that offer simple explanations and encourage blame on women and feminism.
Prof Hawkes argues that the manosphere provides boys and young men with a sense of belonging, identity, and an explanation for their difficulties. However, she stresses that a response that only removes the manosphere without offering credible alternatives will fail. Instead, society must provide boys with something better to address their needs rather than just telling them what to avoid.
Mark Brooks, policy and communications director at the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys, welcomes the report's stance that the manosphere is a public health issue affecting men, boys, women, and girls. He points out that the discussion has often positioned all men and boys as a problem without considering the broader economic, educational, and cultural challenges driving their engagement. Brooks notes that the Centre is currently working on research to identify those most at risk.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
