The increase of online misogyny, coupled with growing male loneliness and incel culture, has culminated in a hateful corner of the internet: the manosphere. Even in a place as progressive as the Netherlands, young men and women are at risk.
If you haven’t heard of the manosphere at this point, you are a rare breed of chronically offline.
This dangerous phenomenon is a global issue, inspiring hit shows like Adolescence and warranting action by major organisations such as the United Nations.
And, surprise, surprise, it’s reached the Netherlands. So what steps is the country taking to combat this harmful ideology?
Firstly, what is the Manosfeer?
As defined by the UN, the manosphere is “an umbrella term for online communities that have increasingly promoted narrow and aggressive definitions of what it means to be a man,” more often than not at the cost of women’s well-being.
Rather than existing as a single subculture, the manosphere is a divided, fragmented, and insidious community that promotes anti-feminist and misogynistic thinking.
It exists as a collection of online movements with a single message about what masculinity is meant to be.
This variety means Dutch boys can be targeted with increasing specificity and effectiveness.
The growing fame of English-speaking manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, and Myron Gaines (real name Amrou Fudl) has both shocked and intrigued the online world. It has also inspired copycats in the Netherlands.
Fitfluencers and crypto-bros who idolise Tate, like Mees Wijnants and Tim Wouda, are specifically Dutch examples of these radical messages.
To quote Wouda, these videos are a “community where men are focused on self-improvement,” and the ultimate message is “positive.”
Clearly, the manosphere has a targeted reach into the hearts and minds of Dutch jongens.
According to the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) of the Netherlands, security threats are becoming more of an individual process, and the Netherlands continues to have a “substantial” threat degree (level 4 out of 5) for attacks.
This kind of personal and individual radicalisation, findings show, often begins with online immersion in the realms of misogyny and right-wing extremism.
Luckily, the nation is responding in turn.
Nederland vs. Manosfeer
Manosfeer, look out: the Dutch are attacking the issue from several angles.
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) is conducting studies to better understand this community’s social and individual influences.
This is good news: a more comprehensive picture of what makes the manosphere so attractive to Dutch youth, in particular, will help inform better solutions.
Cultural and academic organisations like SPUI25 are also platforming speakers with deep insight into Dutch feminism and how to defend the nation from violence against women.
READ MORE | Who are the Dolle Mina’s? The Dutch feminist group is back
In addition, several individual programs exist to help bring young Dutch men back into the light.
Some of these programs are specifically mentioned by the Dutch government as potential solutions.
Groups like Emancipator, a Dutch organisation that aims to involve young men in the gender equality movement, offer training, newsletters, and information on positive masculinity.
Initiatives like LEFGozers allow young men to enrol individually or in groups to learn about power, peer pressure, respect, and macho behaviour.
In addition, the Nederlandse Jeugdinstituut has compiled information on recognising the manosphere and why it is so controversial.
Clearly, the resources are out there.
Not just for the sake of women
The central goal of these organisations is not just to protect women; they also intend to address the root causes of why these manosphere influencers are so attractive to young Dutch men.
Emancipator specifically addresses that “Feminism needs men for a better world, and men need feminism for a better life.”
The constricting and high-pressure nature of patriarchy has put young men in an uncomfortable and, often, very lonely position.
Speaking to EenVandaag, Dutch psychiatrist Esther van Fenema explains that “there’s little to counter [the manosphere] that boys can identify with.”
Thankfully, the Dutch seem to have found a niche in addressing this.
The above organisations focus on root causes and offer alternatives to the harmful messages out there.
As LEFgozers states on their site, their program is a place “where courage no longer means macho behaviour, but rather going your own way.”
Ultimately, the manosfeer may be loud, but there is reason for hope.
Have you encountered the manosfeer? Let us know in the comments!
