The Hidden Paths To Sexist Beliefs In Online Communities

How do men end up buying into sexist views online? It is a question that has puzzled many. Two studies looked into this. They wanted to understand how a man's sense of identity can lead him to embrace misogynistic beliefs. These beliefs are at the heart of the manosphere. The manosphere is a network of online communities. They are notorious for their sexist views. Unfortunately, the manosphere has also been linked to a rise in extremism and violence against women. The studies focused on two main attitudes found in the manosphere. These are anti-feminism and the belief that women are manipulative by nature. The researchers found something interesting. Men who do not see their own privilege are more likely to feel threatened by feminists. This feeling of threat can lead them to adopt manosphere attitudes. The first study involved 311 participants. The second study had 470 participants. Both studies showed similar results.The second study went a step further. It looked at how men's views on their status and gender dynamics affect their feelings of threat. Men who recognize their privilege and see gender roles changing are less likely to feel threatened. They also show less support for manosphere attitudes. This is a crucial finding. It suggests that acknowledging privilege and understanding gender dynamics can reduce the appeal of sexist beliefs. So, what can be done to counter these attitudes? The studies suggest that helping men see their privilege and the changing nature of gender roles could be a start. This could make them less likely to feel threatened by feminists. In turn, this could reduce their support for manosphere attitudes. It is also important to note that the measures of sexism used in these studies may need an update. They should reflect the current gender discourse and the content of the manosphere. This could help in understanding and addressing the issue more effectively. The studies also highlight the need for more research. This research should focus on how masculine identity is conceptualized and measured in today's world. This could provide a deeper understanding of the issue. It could also help in developing more effective strategies to counter sexist beliefs.