If you want the dangers of misogyny to be taken seriously, it seems you need a man to speak out about it. Even better, have him make a film. That is the stark reality highlighted by the response to Louis Theroux's latest documentary, Inside the Manosphere, which delves into the murky world of incels, pick-up artists, and men's rights advocates.
A Cesspool of Anti-Feminist Ideologies
This online subculture, often referred to as the "manosphere," is a cesspool of anti-feminist ideologies that view women as the enemy. Its adherents propagate beliefs that gender equality is the root cause of societal degradation, with influencers monetising male insecurities while shifting blame elsewhere. The general reaction to Netflix's hit documentary has been one of shocked alarm, as if the perils of incel culture are somehow a newfound discovery.
Not Uncharted Territory
However, this is far from uncharted territory. Women, girls, and AFAB individuals have been shouting from the rooftops about this systemic issue for decades. For the past eleven years, Labour MP Jess Phillips has stood in Parliament annually to name every woman killed by a man in Britain, a list that recently exceeded 100 names. Women do not just lend their voices to this cause; they sometimes sacrifice their lives.
All too often, their anguish is met with sorrowful silence when yet another woman is killed by a man. Women's oppression is frequently treated as a philosophical debate, with hesitant discussions over whether equality regression has even occurred, as if definitive proof is lacking. A glance at the sociopolitical climate reveals how much society has reverted to old habits that were never fully eradicated.
The Old World in New Guise
In a matter of months, painstaking efforts toward progress have been undone or, at the very least, undermined. This is not a new world; it is the old one operating within the highly accessible realm of influencer culture. Toxic masculinity permeates positions of power, from the Oval Office inciting conflict to everyday ignorance, laying the foundations for the manosphere's hideous growth.
Overlooking women's experiences in favour of a man's perspective is, quite frankly, insulting. While Theroux's highlighting of the issue can help raise awareness, society should not require the clout of a single man to override millions of women who have far more direct experience with the manosphere's ramifications. Awkwardly engaging with this culture is not equivalent to being hunted by it.
The Problem of Male Oracle Status
Theroux being championed as a kind of oracle is part of the problem, because we still only listen attentively when a man speaks. Undeniably, this perception of men as fonts of knowledge, regardless of their direct experience, is one way the manosphere has gained traction. Change cannot and will not happen when male perspectives are still regarded more highly than those of women.
People who once considered themselves removed from the manosphere's harmful reach are now taking note, but this awareness comes at a steep cost. Domestic abuse shelters are buckling under demand, women are killed regularly without making headlines, and predators are allowed social platforms to spew hatred with few obstacles. If men had been held accountable long ago, the struggle would not feel so monumental.
It is almost as if believing women makes a difference. Who would have thought it?
