“Your body, my choice” is a subversive statement that has spiked in worldwide online popularity, igniting a boom in rape threats and sexist rhetoric from the “manosphere.”

A play on the word “blogosphere,”  which refers to websites and blogs  collectively, the manosphere is  defined by the Cambridge Dictionary  as “websites and internet discussion  groups that are concerned with men’s  interests and rights as opposed to  women’s, often connected with  opposition to feminism or dislike of  women.”  

In an article, authors Ben Rich and Eva Bujalka noted how young impressionable men worldwide are strongly affected by the loneliness epidemic and fall behind in educational engagement and outcomes along with personal issues such as romantic rejection, alienation, economic failure, and emasculation. According to them, these experiences allure men to the manosphere by self-help gurus, pick-up artists, and right-wing socio-political commentators who prey on insecurity and dissatisfaction to offer the “red pill” solution of adhering to their ideologies on topics including rape, service, gender roles, and toxic masculinity. Manosphere content can be easily found on social media and on websites and blogs hosted by their communities.

Additionally, a 2024 Vodafone Telecommunications campaign shows that algorithms lead most boys from unrelated and innocent content such as fitness and gaming to misogyny in about a minute, based on a survey with 520 parents and 500 teenage boys by Opinium, a market research firm. The manosphere also leads attacks on feminist movements such as MeToo and, more recently, the 4 Nos movement, by distorting their arguments.

The manosphere misrepresents men’s issues as a crisis of misandry and emasculation, promoting a vague masculinity that fuels identity struggles. It enforces restrictive norms on gender expression, emotional support, maturity, and tolerance toward women and queer individuals. As a harmful construct, toxic masculinity harms all and must be dismantled.

The normalization of boys underperforming in school not only hinders their academic growth but also limits their understanding of social issues and their ability to empathize with marginalized communities. The widespread acceptance of the phrase “boys will be boys” reinforces harmful attitudes, stigmatizes mental health, and fosters a mindset that makes them more susceptible to the manosphere’s rhetoric and echo chambers. According to the World Bank Group, key factors contributing to boys’ underachievement include low participation, low completion rates, and poor learning outcomes.

Thus, parents and schools must become proactive in shaping behavior by equipping children with media literacy, enabling them to critically assess rhetoric, embrace differences, and seek proper psychological support. Key actions include challenging—rather than reinforcing—the stereotype of underperforming boys, integrating media literacy into all academic levels, incorporating discussions on online social issues into the curriculum, and educating parents and educators on digital trends they may not have experienced firsthand.

Furthermore, many men feel alienated from progressive movements but find validation in the messaging of the manosphere, which reinforces their prejudices and anger toward those they perceive as having wronged or emasculated them. While progressive movements often operate in good faith, they struggle to engage these men, as meaningful dialogue is hindered by mutual hostility and name-calling. To create lasting change, movements must strike a balance—firmly rejecting bigotry while fostering pathways for growth and understanding.

Above all, it is men who must take the lead in fostering change, holding themselves and others accountable for meeting the basic standards of respect and decency. There is no justification for demeaning others as lesser. Men must develop the social and emotional maturity to recognize their position in society, understand the root causes of these issues, and work toward meaningful change. While not every man engages in harmful behavior, all men have a role in preventing it—ensuring a safer and more inclusive world for everyone.