Making misogyny mainstream
Young users often come across this content by chance and get hooked. They end up existing in a parallel world full of anger, frustration and toxic ideology.
The manosphere is a melting pot for anti-feminist narratives, which, thanks to social media, can spread like wildfire. The content ranges from manipulative dating advice to political demands aimed at weakening the social position of women to outright misogyny. What they all have in common is a fundamental rejection of equality between the sexes.
Many videos appear professionally produced. "They are men with microphones, usually in podcast situations, ranting about things like how women should not have a high 'body count' — in other words, that they shouldn't have slept with many men. This manosphere claims to be based on natural and traditional values, but it's actually about oppression," says Tara-Louise Wittwer, an author and video producer who has been working on this topic for many years.
"According to this traditional worldview, women are actively chosen by men. This is one of the alpha male's desired motives," says Wittwer. "But the reality here is different: For the most part, a woman can choose someone herself, choose no one at all, choose another woman, or stay alone and perhaps be quite happy at 30 with three cats. That makes these kinds of men angry. They see they are losing power over women."
After a few hours scrolling through the world of masculinity influencers, one notices they share a similar perception of the world: modern society is set against men, and men are therefore at a disadvantage. The desire for old social structures and gender stereotypes dominates these social media channels.
Christian influencers
Christian influences, or "Christfluencers," as they are sometimes referred to, who invoke religion to restrict women's rights, propagate the same message.
"It's an attempt to shift responsibility. Along the lines of, 'It's not our fault that we oppress women, because God or Jesus said so,' or 'Women are just worth less because of biology, are only allowed to be with a few men, are only allowed to do this and that,'" says Wittwer.
More and more women are also jumping on board. "Make him a sandwich" is a hashtag used by women who share the views of the manosphere and the ideology of "natural order" in relation to gender.
"These women often highlight that it's their choice to live this dependent life — and that is not to be condemned at all. If a woman says, 'I want to be a traditional housewife, I'm fulfilled by being at home, cooking and having children,' then of course that's fine. Feminists fought for a long time to have this choice," says Wittwer.
The problem is that when women are primarily active in the home, they disappear from public life and are unable to help shape [political] decisions and processes.
Many of these women who share the ideas of the manosphere also create accounts and promote their lifestyle as the only valid one. "Anyone who doesn't do this is labeled mentally ill and told they need therapy. As is so often the case, feminism is portrayed as an illness," says Wittwer.
Poisoned discourse
Wittwer is also active online and regularly produces German-language videos on the topic of equality and solidarity among women. She critically analyses how patriarchal structures and influencers spread misogynistic content on social media — concise, pointed and with subtle humour.
But not everyone likes it. Comments like "but you have everything in Germany," in reference to women's rights in the country, are not uncommon. "Statistics, however, show that every other day, women are killed by their partners or former partners," she points out.
The criticism directed at her doesn't just come from men, but also from the feminist camp.
"For some, I'm not radical enough. For example, I don't sympathise with the 4B movement , partly because I have a husband myself, whom I wouldn't want to be without," says Wittwer.
The radical 4B feminist movement originates in South Korea and opposes marriage to men; women should not have children, romantic relationships, or sex with men.
"It's not about marriage or not marriage. It's about women having choices and being able to decide," continues Wiitwer. "Women and men are not identical, but they are of equal value. And many people don't seem to want to understand that. It's about equal rights and equal value." So, it is exactly the opposite of what the followers of the manosphere, whether men or women, want.
The increasing popularity of this misogynistic movement poses great danger, with platforms like TikTok and YouTube serving as the perfect breeding grounds. Influencers sell toxic masculinity images as lifestyle tips and disguise hate as "truth." Young men are particularly vulnerable to this content. Social media is creating a new wave of misogynistic narratives that can be socially explosive.
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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Making misogyny mainstream
Misogyny is spreading on social media through the so-called "manosphere," reports DW. These masculinity influencers, often young, well-educated men, present themselves as victims of feminism and call for their power to be "reclaimed." Young users often come across this content by chance and get hooked. They end up existing in a parallel world full of anger, frustration and toxic ideology. The manosphere is a melting pot for anti-feminist narratives, which, thanks to social media, can spread like wildfire. The content ranges from manipulative dating advice to political demands aimed at weakening the social position of women to outright misogyny. What they all have in common is a fundamental rejection of equality between the sexes. Many videos appear professionally produced. "They are men with microphones, usually in podcast situations, ranting about things like how women should not have a high 'body count' — in other words, that they shouldn't have slept with many men. This manosphere claims to be based on natural and traditional values, but it's actually about oppression," says Tara-Louise Wittwer, an author and video producer who has been working on this topic for many years. "According to this traditional worldview, women are actively chosen by men. This is one of the alpha male's desired motives," says Wittwer. "But the reality here is different: For the most part, a woman can choose someone herself, choose no one at all, choose another woman, or stay alone and perhaps be quite happy at 30 with three cats. That makes these kinds of men angry. They see they are losing power over women." After a few hours scrolling through the world of masculinity influencers, one notices they share a similar perception of the world: modern society is set against men, and men are therefore at a disadvantage. The desire for old social structures and gender stereotypes dominates these social media channels. Christian influencers Christian influences, or "Christfluencers," as they are sometimes referred to, who invoke religion to restrict women's rights, propagate the same message. "It's an attempt to shift responsibility. Along the lines of, 'It's not our fault that we oppress women, because God or Jesus said so,' or 'Women are just worth less because of biology, are only allowed to be with a few men, are only allowed to do this and that,'" says Wittwer. More and more women are also jumping on board. "Make him a sandwich" is a hashtag used by women who share the views of the manosphere and the ideology of "natural order" in relation to gender. "These women often highlight that it's their choice to live this dependent life — and that is not to be condemned at all. If a woman says, 'I want to be a traditional housewife, I'm fulfilled by being at home, cooking and having children,' then of course that's fine. Feminists fought for a long time to have this choice," says Wittwer. The problem is that when women are primarily active in the home, they disappear from public life and are unable to help shape [political] decisions and processes. Many of these women who share the ideas of the manosphere also create accounts and promote their lifestyle as the only valid one. "Anyone who doesn't do this is labeled mentally ill and told they need therapy. As is so often the case, feminism is portrayed as an illness," says Wittwer. Poisoned discourse Wittwer is also active online and regularly produces German-language videos on the topic of equality and solidarity among women. She critically analyses how patriarchal structures and influencers spread misogynistic content on social media — concise, pointed and with subtle humour. But not everyone likes it. Comments like "but you have everything in Germany," in reference to women's rights in the country, are not uncommon. "Statistics, however, show that every other day, women are killed by their partners or former partners," she points out. The criticism directed at her doesn't just come from men, but also from the feminist camp. "For some, I'm not radical enough. For example, I don't sympathise with the 4B movement , partly because I have a husband myself, whom I wouldn't want to be without," says Wittwer. The radical 4B feminist movement originates in South Korea and opposes marriage to men; women should not have children, romantic relationships, or sex with men. "It's not about marriage or not marriage. It's about women having choices and being able to decide," continues Wiitwer. "Women and men are not identical, but they are of equal value. And many people don't seem to want to understand that. It's about equal rights and equal value." So, it is exactly the opposite of what the followers of the manosphere, whether men or women, want. The increasing popularity of this misogynistic movement poses great danger, with platforms like TikTok and YouTube serving as the perfect breeding grounds. Influencers sell toxic masculinity images as lifestyle tips and disguise hate as "truth." Young men are particularly vulnerable to this content. Social media is creating a new wave of misogynistic narratives that can be socially explosive.
Express Tribune
12-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Stoic Roman emperor subject of new exhibition
How do you keep calm in times of crisis? What do people need to be happy? Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is often quoted online for answers. This once-powerful man would have preferred to be a philosopher. "Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig." As reported by DW, wise statements like this can be found in the 'Meditations' of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE). He had never intended these reflections for publication, having written them purely for himself, but they have become some of the most widely read writings after the Bible and the Quran. A bestseller, so to speak, which has been translated into numerous languages worldwide. Known today as a philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius ruled at a time marked by crises and catastrophes. He ascended to the throne in 161 CE, just a few years before the Marcomannic Wars (166-180 CE) – the Marcomanni were Germanic tribes – which would shake the Roman Empire to its foundations. Good governance Archaeologist Marcus Reuter – director of the Rheinisches Landesmuseum – and historian Viola Skiba – director of the Stadtmuseum Simeonstift in Trier, Germany – have co-curated a joint exhibition, in each of their institutions, on Marcus Aurelius, set to run from June 15 to November 23, 2025. Skiba said the themes of the exhibition are more current than they had anticipated. The question of what good leadership looks like has taken on a new urgency, especially in these crisis-ridden and polarised times. At the same time, the question is as old as human history itself, and was clearly a focus in the ancient world. What, according to Marcus Aurelius, distinguishes good governance? "Basically, it is guided by the cardinal virtues of antiquity," said Skiba. Those desirable virtues include wisdom, justice, prudence and moderation. Reuter added that Marcus Aurelius would most likely have considered Donald Trump "not a good leader, and certainly not a role model." But of course, Marcus Aurelius was a product of his time, who grew up within the social structures of antiquity, including acceptance of slavery, unequal rights and brutal wars. But "... he always put the interests of the state first," added Reuter. The construction of the Porta Nigra in Trier — today the city's famous landmark - can also be traced back to Marcus Aurelius. It was part of the city wall that Aurelius had built to protect its citizens. Relevance Aphorisms like the above can seem like mockery coming from a wealthy emperor, but they were meant sincerely. Indeed, Marcus Aurelius cultivated a rather modest lifestyle and even had imperial household items – his private assets – auctioned off when the state was in financial crisis. "As far as I know, no Roman emperor before or after him did that," said Reuter. Marcus Aurelius also apparently spent a lot of time pondering the meaning of life, which is presumably the reason so many young people nowadays are interested in him and his writings. In Reuter's estimation, "his 'Meditations' are a little treasure trove containing something to address nearly every situation in life." Reuter pointed out that Marcus Aurelius' writings don't lend themselves to being read from front to back, but are well-suited to dipping into to find inspiration. They are, after all, the private musings of someone who spent time thinking about what was truly important in life. So it's small wonder that quotes by the Roman emperor can be found all over social media. The exhibition in Trier builds on this contemporary interest in Marcus Aurelius and the topics that occupied him. It's designed to inspire visitors from all over the world to reflect on themselves, society and what a long-ago Roman emperor still has to say to us today. Or, as Skiba put it, "Every society is based on individuals, and if each and every individual asks themselves these philosophical and political questions, then it also works as a whole."
Express Tribune
07-12-2024
- Express Tribune
Just who is Santa Claus?
How can a single being bring presents to millions and millions of children around the world at Christmas? Well, as per DW, there's a lot of faith involved. And faith also has a lot to do with what the Christmas figure we know today looks like. Whether it's Papai Noel in Brazil, Santa Claus in the US and Canada, Kaled? Senelis in Lithuania or Babbo Natale in Italy, the bearded gift-bringer is modelled on a third-century bishop, Saint Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of children. And not just him. A good 200 years later, another saint with the same name appeared: Nicholas of Sion. St Nicholas, the benefactor Few historical facts about either of them are still known today, so their life stories have been fused together over the centuries, creating famous Saint Nicholas legends. There is the story of the gold nuggets: Saint Nicholas is said to have saved three destitute girls from prostitution by throwing gold nuggets through the window of their house at night. That's why Saint Nicholas is often depicted in art with three golden balls or apples. The bishop is said to have had a strong charitable streak and bequeathed his considerable fortune to the poor. In contrast, the resurrection of three students who were dismembered and placed in a salt barrel is more likely one of the many legends of miracles with which the church has tried to keep people in line since the Middle Ages. St Nicholas vs the Christ Child The feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6, the probable anniversary of the death of Nicholas of Myra. That displeased the famous 16th-century reformer, Martin Luther, who had fallen out with the Catholic Church and thus with almost half the world. He objected to the Catholic worship of saints and wanted to link the Christian bringer of gifts to Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. He wanted to direct people's interest, especially that of children, away from the countless figures of saints and towards Jesus Christ. And so he replaced Saint Nicholas with Christ as the bringer of gifts, which was quickly accepted in Protestant areas. Since the Reformation, the "Christkind" (Christ Child) has brought Christmas presents in Germany, usually on Christmas Eve, December 24, or a day later, on Christmas Day. But the custom of Saint Nicholas placing presents in boots on the eve of December 6 did not die out either - after all, gift-giving can be traced back to the story of the three girls and the lumps of gold. Nowadays, Saint Nicholas Day is still the main gift-giving day in some countries - like Belgium or the Netherlands, where the "Sinterklaasfest" is celebrated. A sinister companion In the 16th century, the benevolent Saint Nicholas was joined by a rather malicious antagonist. He was called "Knecht Ruprecht" or "Krampus" in southern Germany, "Hans Muff" in the Rhineland, or "De zwarte Piet" (Black Pete) in Dutch. He carried a rod made of brushwood and was supposed to punish naughty children. To this day, Knecht Ruprecht accompanies Saint Nicholas - but now only as a sort-of-scary decorative sidekick. The chances of him actually beating children are zero; his real job is to help Saint Nicholas carry the sack of presents and otherwise just scowl menacingly. The Christkind, on the other hand, comes without a companion, but bears the face of an angel and wings. Although it has Protestant origins, the Christkind is now more common in Catholic areas. Elsewhere, it has been replaced by Santa Claus, a figure whose origin story is a mixture of the legend of Saint Nicholas, the fairy tale of Father Frost - and an incredibly successful advertising campaign. Father Frost, Papa Noel Looking at a map of the world showing the different names for the Christmas figure, the regional differences, generally reflecting the linguistic marks of colonial powers, are obvious. The most widespread name is a combination of the words for "father" and "Christmas." In the Spanish-speaking world from Europe to Latin America, for example, there are various spellings of "Papa Noel." In former British colonies and in the United Kingdom, people speak of "Father Christmas" and the French call their Santa Claus "Père Noël." But South African children await the arrival of Sinterklaas, a legacy of the Dutch colonists, as do children in Indonesia, which was a Dutch colony until 1949. In Eastern European countries and as far afield as Mongolia, people talk of Papa Winter or Father Frost. That figure goes back to a winter wizard from Slavic mythology and is very similar to Santa Claus in its depictions. He is the personification of winter, and to emphasise this, Father Frost also has a companion in some regions - a snowflake in the form of a delicate girl. Pagan myths The contemporary Scandinavian version of Santa Claus has various origins, generally predating Christianisation, when people celebrated midwinter, called Yule. There is the figure of an old man with a fur cape, hood and beard, who travels through the countryside on a reindeer sleigh and distributes nuts to help people survive the harsh winter. Legend has it that he is a descendant of Odin, the most powerful Norse god. In Norway and Sweden, there is a story about a house spirit ("Tomte") who watched over the house and yard, but only if he was given enough food. Today, it is the Jultomte or Julenissen who brings presents on Christmas Eve - in exchange for food, of course. The Finnish Joulupukki was once a nasty figure, half man, half goat, who went around to people's homes demanding food, or he would abduct their children. At some point, however, the horns disappeared (as did the child abductions) and the goat-man became a Christmas-man. That's what he is still called in German - "Weihnachtsmann."
