Episode 32

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Published on:

30th Aug 2023

Dr Lisa Sugiura – Incels and the Manosphere: Realities and Responses

‘The Manosphere’ is a cluster of online groups who oppose feminism and believe that men are the true victims of gender inequality. There has long been backlash towards feminism, but its influence has grown in recent years, facilitated by the internet. Such groups include Men’s Rights and Father’s Rights Activists, Pick Up Artists (who instruct men on how to manipulate women for sex), and Men Going their Own Way (who avoid all relations with women). Incels, or ‘Involuntary Celibates’, have drawn most attention, not least because of a number of mass killings being ascribed to individuals associated with them. So what are Incel communities, why are they a cause of concern, and how should we respond to them? These are some of the issues we explore with expert Dr Lisa Sugiura.

Lisa is a Reader in Cybercrime and Gender in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Portsmouth in the UK. She is the Chair of Hampshire Constabulary's Force Strategic Independent Advisory Group.

We cover the following topics in this episode:

  • What the Manosphere is and why we should be concerned about it (01:00 - 05:21)
  • The ideas and terminology used by Incels (05:21 - 08:28)
  • How women are viewed within Incel communities (08:28 - 09:58)
  • What led Lisa to carry out research in this area (09:58 - 14:02)
  • How she went about conducting her research (14:02 - 15:59)
  • Interviewing men in the Incel community (15:59 - 21:01)
  • The impact of doing this work on her wellbeing (21:01 - 23:39)
  • What happens when men leave Incel communities (23:39 - 27:01)
  • The harms of the Manosphere (27:01 - 29:25)
  • The threats online misogyny poses to democracy (29:25 - 31:06)
  • The variety of men involved in Incel communities (31:06 - 33:28)
  • The damage Incel communities do to men themselves (33:28 - 37:31)
  • Official responses to the Manosphere and what needs to change (37:31 - 40:26)
  • The responsibilities of social media companies (40:26 - 42:52)
  • Possibilities for deradicalising or preventing men from becoming involved in the first place (42:52 - 45:21)
  • Overlaps in discourses used by Incels and those in pornography (45:21 - 49:07)
  • How to avoid giving these groups a bigger platform (49:07 - 53:27)
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About the Podcast

Now and Men
Changing Masculinities, Challenging Norms
What role can men play in achieving gender equality?
Why is feminism good for men?
How are rigid ideas about masculinity holding back our lives—and how are people around the world challenging them?

These are the questions at the heart of Now and Men, a podcast hosted by social researchers Dr Stephen Burrell (Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, Australia) and Sandy Ruxton (Independent Researcher and Honorary Fellow at Durham University, UK).

We explore masculinity and change in the lives of men and boys today, diving into issues such as gender-based violence, fatherhood, men’s health, politics and the environment. Grounded in feminist thinking, our conversations connect big ideas to everyday experiences—showing how gender shapes all of us, and how men can be part of building a more equal world.

At a time when regressive versions of masculinity are resurging—amplified by political leaders, online influencers, even podcasters—we spotlight the people pushing back. Each episode features inspiring voices working to engage men and boys in positive, transformative ways and imagining feminist futures.

New episodes drop every month. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts, and join us in exploring what healthy, caring, equitable paths forward can look like for men. Questions or comments? We’d love to hear from you at nowandmen@gmail.com.

About your hosts

Stephen Burrell

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I am a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Melbourne. I'm originally from the UK, and moved to Australia at the beginning of 2024. My research is about men, masculinities, and violence. I am particularly interested in the prevention of men's violence - especially violence against women, and violence against the environment - and promoting care as an alternative. I'm a big fan of feminism, drinking tea, connecting with nature, eating vegan snacks, and listening to heavy metal.

Sandy Ruxton

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Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology at Durham University (UK). Independent researcher, expert on men and masculinities. Previous policy work on human rights, children and families, poverty and social exclusion, and asylum and migration. Programme experience with boys and young men in schools, community, and prisons. Steering Committee member, MenEngage Europe. Volunteer for OX4 Food Crew. Chess-player, bike-rider, tree-hugger. Great grandfather edited Boy's Own Paper, but was sacked.