Louis Theroux’s documentary Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere, now streaming on Netflix, has sparked widespread discussions on social media. The 90-minute film examines how influencers such as Harrison Sullivan (HSTikkyTokky) and Myron Gaines promote rigid ideas of masculinity to young boys, often using specialized slang and gestures.20
What Is the Manosphere?
The manosphere refers to online communities that advance narrow, aggressive views of manhood. These groups claim feminism and gender equality undermine men’s rights, emphasizing emotional restraint, wealth, looks, and dominance—particularly over women—as measures of male value.10
Decoding Manosphere Terminology
Terms once limited to these corners of the internet now appear more broadly. UN Women’s Manosphere Glossary outlines key phrases to identify such content:
- Red pill: Drawn from The Matrix (1999), it describes awakening to a supposed reality where society favors women over men. Opponents are seen as having taken the ‘blue pill.’10
- Black pill: Held by incels (involuntary celibates), this fatalistic view holds that romantic success is biologically fixed, leaving ‘inferior’ men without hope.
- AWALT: ‘All women are like that,’ a stereotype generalizing women’s behavior.
- FHO: ‘Female humanoid organism,’ a dehumanizing insult implying women fall short of men—and humanity.10
- MGTOW: ‘Men going their own way,’ asserting society disadvantages men.
- PUA: ‘Pick-up artist,’ individuals teaching tactics to manipulate women into sex, dismissing consent.
- Stacy: An idealized, ultra-attractive woman, out of reach for most.
- Chad: The alpha male counterpart—muscular, sexually dominant, opposite of ‘incel’ or ‘beta male.’ Often featured in memes, sometimes with racist undertones.10
- Becky: Describes a less desirable woman, frequently tied to racial or class biases.
‘Like many communities, the manosphere spreads its ideas with its own unique terminology and cultural references,’ states the glossary. ‘This includes coded language for gendered hate speech, pseudoscience and other harmful lies—even certain phrases that might be considered harmless outside of these online communities.’10
Broader Impact
The manosphere infiltrates social media, podcasts, gaming spaces, and dating apps, targeting men seeking advice on male issues. Content shifts from helpful guidance to promoting severe self-discipline, emotional suppression, and dominance over women and girls.10
