An ideology which, like others, has been gaining ground for several years. According to the last report from the High Council for Equal French Equal Ochful people, published in January 2025, almost half of men find that it is difficult to be a man in today’s society. In 25-35, 13 % find it difficult to be a man but easy to be a woman. Likewise, genres stereotypes still persist today. 47 % of men under 35 think that to be respected they must play sports. 37 % of them think they have to know how to fight.
And in Belgium? With us, the situation is much more vague, at least on the French -speaking side. “”We do not have figures, therefore the presence and evolution of masculinist movements is very difficult to establish“Explains Renaud Maes, sociologist at Umons and UClouvain.”What we can say is that there is no reason for Belgium to be miraculously spared by this type of content. We know that there is an important rise in masculinism in other countries so it is very likely that in Belgium it is also the case“, Details the sociologist. But he remains cautious:” Jhe does not think that in French -speaking Belgium there is at the moment a massive subscription to these ideas. This can evolve but, in my opinion, we are not at a stage where it is absolutely necessary to panic.“
Masculinists, from ordinary sexism to hatred of women
A threat to the OCAM viewfinder
Despite everything, certain particularly radical masculine movements such as incels are indeed present on our territory. “”The phenomenon remains not very visible but requires increased vigilance“, Specifies the Ocam.”The signals observed reflect only a fraction of the more diffuse and difficult to identify reality“.
According to the common database terrorism, extremism and radicalization process (TER) of the OCAM, two individuals stand out as identified with the ideology incelout of a total of 562 people. “”Other ideologies with toxic and misogynist influences exist, in particular within right extremism or in other movement mixing nihilism, Satanism and violent extremism“Concludes the organization.
How these four masculinists have developed their hatred on the internet
A real danger for some. “On sees an attempted attack in France, attacks or feminicides elsewhere in the world so there is a danger in real life, not only on the Internet“Explains Margot Foubert, project manager at the militant federation of solidarity family planning centers, Sofelia.”I do not want to be alarmist but the life of women is in danger, there is a fear of seeing this type of attack occur in Belgium“, She warned.
Internet, cradle of masculinism
It is now well known, masculinist contents are everywhere on social networks. Instagram and Tiktok are full of influencers who propagate and glorify these speeches, sometimes extreme. “”In French -speaking Belgium, there is no clear figure of masculinism that stands out“Explains Renaud Maes. But that does not mean that Francophones escape these content.
“Belgians are large consumers of French-speaking content in the broad sense, so the figures of masculinism in France also have success beyond borders“Explains Margot Foubert.”When we are interested in this problem, we notice how easy it is to have access to this type of content and set up the algorithms of social networks favor them“, she notes.
For Renaud Maes, this does not mean, however, that young people adhere to the contents they face: “I note that some young people consume masculinist content very frequently but at the same time declare pro feminists“. A certain ambivalence according to this sociologist. He also notes that the most radical masculinists are not necessarily young people,”For example, incels, who are often very hard, we notice that they are rather fifties“Explains Renaud Maes.
An attack has been thwarted in France: an 18 -year -old who has two knives was indicted and imprisoned
Trivialization of male speeches
Another observation, in Belgium as in other countries, the masculinist references are increasingly present in the public sphere, especially in political speeches. “”For example, linking virility to consuming red meat or loving car races, these are elements that are found in the discourse of certain political representatives and which have been popularized by masculinistic influencers“Explains Renaud Maes.”There is a series of elements around the new virility and the virile reaffirmation which gradually enter into common language. “
Consequently, what solutions to consider to stem the progression of these movements? For Renaud Maes, it is important to objectify the phenomenon before drawing conclusions. “”We are still in the infancyexplains the sociologist. This should help us doubt this massive propagation of male ideas among young people who seem to be obvious when data from foreign countries show phenomena that are much more ambivalent. There is a criticism of these content that exists in young people.“
In general, specialists agree that media awareness and education remain essential tools to fight against the rise of masculinism. “”Evras (Education for relational, emotional and sexual life – note) makes it possible to train young and old to these themes, but also to violence, sexism, on online harassment“Concludes Margot Foubert.
