Under the guise of defending the male cause, the figures of online masculinism recycle the old sexist shots with today’s codes: listed stories, well -oiled rhetoric, with an increasingly young audience. Faced with them, a generation of boys in search of landmarks, disoriented by the end of patriarchal models without always finding an alternative. If the discomfort is real, the answer, it flirts dangerously with ideology. And behind the apparent revenge of nice guys, hides a completely uninhibited ordinary hatred.
Masculinism, or the fear of losing its privileges
How to define this ideological current? If the Netflix series “adolescence” has back up the phenomenon, masculinism is not new. He is, according to Sylvie Lausberg, president of the ethical committee of the Council of French -speaking women in Belgium, “the reactionary response of a patriarchal society which sees its privileges questioned”. It is not a phenomenon that arises from nowhere, adds Margot Foubert, project manager at Sofelia: “Antiféminism has always existed. As soon as there is a feminist advance or for the rights of minorized, there is a backlash. »»
Masculinism was structured in two large waves. In the 1970s in the United States, he first took the form of a fathers movement claiming custody of their children, against the backdrop of divorce laws. “They created a movement of the fathers who wanted to raise their children themselves, with as an unconscious figure figure of films like” Madame Doubtfire “or” Kramer against Kramer “,” specifies Lausberg. In Europe, this ideology crosses the Atlantic by capillarity. Pseudo-psychological works as “men come from March, the women of Venus” essentialize the sexes with more or less benevolent clichés. “During her conferences, the author explains for example that a woman who does not want to make love must resolve it, it is like soaking the toe in the water to decide to enter the swimming pool … The words of this bestseller were relayed via a play which is still played today in Paris or Brussels. Which is presented as humor conveys powerful patriarchal stereotypes. »»
Today’s masculinism is no longer a sum of isolated individuals. It is a structured movement which is organized and which is displayed
The second wave is structured in reaction to the #MeToo movement. “Refocus the notion of consent in sexual intercourse has shaken certain convinced men that they had a right of enjoyment on the body of women,” observes Lucie Barridez, charged with advocacy at the Center for secular action. Finally, Margot Foubert also recalls a significant event in the history of masculinism. In 1989, in Montreal, an armed man, after having separated men and women, killed 14 students from the Polytechnic by shouting “you are all feminists”. In his letter of suicide, he accuses feminism of having spoiled his life. “It is a masculinist act before the hour, even if the word did not yet exist. »»
Crisis, virility and extreme right: the masculine cocktail
For Lucie Barridez, “today’s masculinism is no longer a sum of isolated individuals. It is a structured movement which is organized and which is displayed ”. This one claims to denounce an imaginary Misandria. Their credo? Feminism would have gone too far and would have reversed inequalities to the detriment of men. These groups defend deeply reactionary positions. “They want to return to a traditional, nationalist, capitalist society. The one who promised the “self-made-man” to reign over her house, his wife and children, ”notes Barridez.
This idealized return to the Thirty Glorious Years, all the more seduces that it happens in a context of generalized economic insecurity. Between precariousness, unemployment and loss of bearings, some seek to find a form of dignity through identity speeches, especially virilists. The formula of Édouard Louis illustrates it well: “Masculinity is the richness of the poor. The last means of reconquest for marginalized. A phenomenon that also affects women, seduced by figures like Thaïs d’Escufon, ex-sponsor of generation identity, which promotes an ultra-conservative vision of the feminine as a way of reconquest of self.
A perfect soil for the extreme right, which was quick to rush. From Orbán to Milei, via Trump supporting Andrew Tate, nationalist figures are now assuming openly anti -demisal speeches. “The Overton window (concept describing the progressive acceptability of radical ideas, editor’s note) has opened,” says Sylvie Lausberg. “Men of power have made these ideas acceptable. »»
Incels, MGTOW, virility coaches: Welcome to the toxic Manosphere
Incels, Mgtow, Pickup Artists… Behind these acronyms in Reddit sauce, the same red thread: control of the body of women. Incels (involuntary singles) believe that sex is due to them. The MGTOW (“Men Going Their Own Way”) have decided to move away from relations with women and traditional society, believing that these harm their freedom and well-being.
As for Pickup Artists, they transform the flirt into violent performance. “They talk about targets, prey, techniques. They harass women in the street by giving themselves to collect a maximum of numbers, it is a logic of predation, ”explains Lucie Barridez. Even rhetoric in the movement of “rights of fathers”, which presents itself as a defense of men in front of biased justice, but whose figures are regularly accused of intra -family violence. “Behind this victim speech, there is a deep hatred of women,” recalls Sylvie Lausberg.
Social networks, virilist incubators
YouTube, Tiktok, Insta, Twitch … The networks have largely contributed to the dissemination of virilist speeches. In frontal or gentle mode, in the form of fitness advice, personal development or meaty diets. “A simple click to lose belly, and we find ourselves caught up in an ideological spiral,” explains Lucie Barridez.
And algorithms ask for more. The more clearing it is, the more it turns. Result: even the young people who oppose it ended drowned in the manosphere. “This amplification logic encloses users in ideological bubbles, with very real consequences: some take action, as shown by the Mickaël Philetas affair in France,” adds Margot Foubert. This self-proclaimed “seduction coach” gave his misogynist theories on his YouTube channel and frequented masculinist networks before killing his ex-partner with 80 stabs.
A male discomfort? Yes, but not as they claim it
Also offline, masculinism is structured: symposia, lobbying, legal proceedings. And virile business at the Bali Time Chamber, where for $ 1,290 per week, we promise the “male reconnection” with muscular blows, icy baths and 1 kg of meat per day. “We must create the conditions so that strong men can get up again, without waiting for a world war to launch this movement,” claims its founder, Nicolas de Paoli.
How to approach this masculinity crisis without falling into the victim reversal trap? “The masculinists situate their suffering in the relationship with women, while their suffering comes from the virilist standards they are summoned to embody,” recalls Irene Zeilinger, sociologist and co -founder of the Garance association. Margot Foubert completes: “The patriarchy also prioritizes men. Those who express their emotions are seen as weak. Result: men who do not consult, who do not speak … and who explode. »»
How to prevent adolescent adolescents to masculinism?
Restore dialogue
“The problem in the series” Adolescence “is notably the silence of the young boy,” explains Sylvie Lausberg. Teens need speech space. Meals, journeys, informal moments are all opportunities to seize. A mutical adolescent can be a teenager in danger.
Spot signs
Contempt towards girls, sexist mockery, virilist influencers in the background: so many signals not to be minimized. “The likes, the videos watched, the comments posted are objective clues,” says Lucie Barridez.
Do not stay alone
Schools, PMS, Evras entertainment, Psychologists: Relay exist. “We must not wear everything alone,” insists Lucie. And campaign for an Evras strengthened at school, far beyond the current four hours. Philosophy and citizenship lessons are also powerful tools. In terms of resources for schools and other professionals, Irene Zeilinger recommends the tool the system of flags (Sensoa), the AMO animation boxes or the guide nail the beak (Garance).
Develop critical mind
“You have to start early, and don’t wait for them to become adolescents,” said Irene Zeilinger. Learn to check your sources, resist the group’s pressure, set your limits. This also involves limiting overexposure to screens: “The screens used as Baby-Sitters prevent the development of an independent thought. »»
Name online violence
“Parents sometimes underestimate the severity of digital violence,” warns Margot Foubert. However, post-traumatic stress can be as intense as in the event of physical violence. The role of moderation of platforms is also central: their responsibility is still too limited.
Masculin
A sensitive, fluet or homosexual boy should never be marginalized. “It is by fighting the stereotypes at the root that we warn the drifts,” recalls Sylvie Lausberg. To show his child other models of masculinity, to open the way to other identities is also to offer an alternative to the withdrawal identity.
