‘Manosphere’ community is misusing scientific research to support its beliefs

Members of the ‘manosphere’ community are misusing academic research to frame and validate their beliefs about women, according to new research led by the University of Kent’s School of Anthropology and Conservation.

The research, published by Evolutionary Human Sciences, demonstrates how evolutionary studies about women’s behaviour (particularly sexual behaviour such as infidelity) are being scrutinised by the ‘manosphere’ online to justify anti-feminist and sexist beliefs. In contrast, research about male sexual behaviour is being overlooked, signifying a double standard.

The ‘manosphere’ is a network of websites, blogs and online forums promoting masculinity, misogyny, and anti-feminist beliefs. Self-proclaimed misogynist influencer Andrew Tate is a known example of the ‘manosphere’ community. Involuntary celibates (otherwise known as ‘incels’) are also regarded members of this community. Awareness of incel culture has been rising amongst the public in recent years.

These research findings indicate a worrying picture for those vulnerable to being influenced by the ‘manosphere’ community.

The research has been led by Kent PhD student Louis Bachaud, alongside Dr Sarah Johns. Together they have warned academics of the ways that their studies may be being misinterpreted in online spaces, and have offered advice to mitigate the actions. This includes their recommendation that fellow academics should carefully frame their scientific writing and encourage them to publicly address the common misuses of research they encounter.

Louis Bachaud said: ‘The hypothetical nature of evolutionary behavioural science is always obscured. The ‘manosphere’ is taking hypotheses out of context and embedding them in their broader grievances, personal experiences, and sexist tropes. There is a bias towards presenting women as more determined by biology than men, and mostly applying the evolutionary lens towards women, but more rarely towards men and their behaviour. 

‘This research is just a first milestone in the direction of disentangling the complex appropriations of science in the ‘manosphere.’

The research paper titled ‘The use and misuse of evolutionary psychology in online manosphere communities: The case of female mating strategies’ is published by Evolutionary Human Sciences. Doi: 10.1017/ehs.2023.22

ENDS

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