Social Masculinity: A Rhetoric Analysis of Male Supremacy - CANCELLED

• In Event: Grievance to Violence: The Gendered Dimensions of Contemporary Hate

Abstract

Anti-feminist communities have had a consistent presence on the Internet; however, toxic masculinity and “red pill” philosophies have expanded rapidly since the 2010’s. Prior literature on anti-feminist social media content has found connections between ideals on male superiority with white supremacy, gender-based violence, and mass shootings. Given the rise of self proclaimed alpha male social media influencers, and the influx of young men’s participation in these online communities, it is important to understand whether the “manosphere” is merely a reconstruction of gendered ideologies vs. the perpetuation of violence and hate speech. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study is to evaluate the extent to which there is an intersection between gendered supremacy ideologies and other forms of hate/bias. Using two social media platforms, this exploratory study analyzes the rhetoric utilized in the comment sections of prominent, male supremacy content creators in an attempt to identify hateful bias. Preliminary findings and recommendations for policy are discussed.

Authors

• Dominique Austin, John Jay College of Criminal Justice / CUNY Graduate Center

• Katrina Perry, John Jay College of Criminal Justice / CUNY Graduate Center

• Susan Nembhard, Urban Institute, Justice and Safety Division