I discussed a majority of this article during this week’s episode of my podcast, Dylan’s Public Journal. You can check it out on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In last year’s presidential election, Democrats lost support from nearly every kind of voter: rich, poor, black, white, Asian American, and Hispanic. However, the defection that alarmed party strategists the most was that of young voters, especially young men.

In 2020, Donald Trump lost the young male vote by fifteen points, yet he won the category by fourteen points in 2024 – a nearly thirty-point swing. What made young, American men turn to MAGA?

Understanding today’s young male

When I set out to conduct research for this article, I really struggled with where to begin. Like most men, I tend to not consider myself a toxic male. I grew up in a fairly affluent, decently conservative Chicago suburb.

I’ve spent over twelve years in the United States Army, including five years of active duty in San Antonio, Afghanistan, and Germany. If you didn’t know, about 61% of active military and veterans tend to vote Republican.

Despite this, I’ve always possessed socially liberal views about the world, and today I would label myself as a progressive. A lot of these beliefs likely came from my parents and brother, who always taught me to treat others with respect and dignity.

Additionally, the Catholic School I attended embedded the “Golden Rule” (treat others the way you want to be treated) in my psyche, where it has stayed ever since. In modern man speak, this equates to telling your friends, “Dude, don’t be a d@$k,” when they’re rude to others, especially when it doesn’t impact their own lives in any way.

Unlike my immediate family, most of my extended family possesses conservative views. At family parties, I heard my fair share of racist or sexist jokes or comments, but my dad made it very clear to me early on: it’s never okay to degrade others. Many of us look and sound different, but, at the end of the day, we’re all just humans.

I say all this to say that I do personally struggle to understand young men. I always have. Because of this, I’ve always preferred to spend time with female friends throughout the years. I prefer to engage in deep, meaningful conversations with my friends.

That’s not to say that I don’t have deep, meaningful conversations with my male friends – I’ve just had far more surface-level discussions about sports or women than politics, mental health or philosophy.

What is toxic masculinity?

To better understand the manosphere and what many term as “rising toxic masculinity” in America, we should probably start at the beginning.

Toxic masculinity is a term often used to describe cultural norms and expectations of manhood that emphasize aggression, emotional repression, dominance, and other behaviors deemed “traditionally masculine,” to the detriment of both individuals and society. It does not imply that men or masculinity as a whole are inherently “toxic.” Rather, the phrase highlights how certain pervasive stereotypes and pressures can negatively impact people of all genders.

Key characteristics include emotional suppression, aggression and dominance, validation through competitiveness, homophobia and sexism and disregard for self-care and health.

1. Emotional Suppression. Men who fall into this category are often socialized to hide vulnerability and avoid open emotional expression. This can lead to mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, and suicide, because individuals may feel unable to seek help or confide in others.

2. Aggression and Dominance. Societal expectations can equate masculinity with physical or verbal aggression. Men may feel pressured to assert dominance in personal relationships or social settings.

3. Validation Through Competitiveness. Competition is often valorized to prove one’s masculinity (e.g., success at work, in sports, or via sexual conquests). This emphasis can create environments where cooperation, empathy, or compromise are undervalued.

4. Homophobia and Sexism. Rigid ideas of “manliness” can foster prejudice toward those who do not conform to these norms (e.g., LGBTQ+ individuals or women in certain roles). This can perpetuate harassment, discrimination, and gender inequality.

5. Disregard for self-care and health. Seeking help—medical, psychological, or otherwise—may be seen as a sign of weakness. This can result in untreated health issues, substance abuse, or unsafe behaviors.

What are the societal implications?

Societal implications include gender-based violence and harassment, mental health crisis, toxic workplace dynamics, strained interpersonal relationships, and influence on public health and policies.

1. Gender-based violence and harassment. Tolerance or encouragement of aggression and dominance can contribute to higher rates of domestic violence, sexual harassment, and assault. It can also normalize verbal and emotional abuse in interpersonal relationships.

2. Mental Health Crisis. Men socialized in these norms may suppress emotional distress, leading to increasing mental health problems. Suicide rates among men are often higher than among women in many countries, partly attributed to stigma around seeking help.

3. Workplace dynamics. Excessive competitiveness or disregard for emotional well-being can create hostile or toxic work environments. This may also discourage women and gender minorities from pursuing leadership positions or certain career paths.

4. Strained interpersonal relationships. Emotional unavailability or pressure to “be in control” can erode healthy communication and connection in families, friendships, and romantic partnerships.

5. Public Health and Policy. Cultural attitudes toward risk-taking and aggression can influence public policy (e.g., gun ownership debates, approaches to violence prevention). Addressing harmful norms in schools, workplaces, and the media can be part of broader policy initiatives to improve societal well-being.

What exactly is the manosphere?

Well, the manosphere refers to a loosely connected network of online communities dedicated to discussions of men’s issues and interests. These include subgroups such as “Men’s Rights Activists” (MRAs), “Men Going Their Own Way” (MGTOW), “Pick-Up Artists” (PUAs), and, in more extreme factions, “Incels” (involuntary celibates) and other anti-feminist groups.

While not all individuals who engage with or identify with the manosphere promote harmful ideas, certain strands within these communities have been associated with spreading or reinforcing toxic masculinity. Here are some of the ways the manosphere has contributed to that promotion:

1. Reinforcement of gender stereotypes. Many manosphere discussions promote a view that men must be dominating, assertive, and sexually successful to be “alpha.” Men who do not fit this mold are labeled “beta” (or worse), reinforcing narrow standards of masculinity that prioritize aggression, emotional suppression, and domination. Threads in some communities mock men who show vulnerability, pain, or empathy. This ridicule can discourage men from seeking support or acknowledging emotional and mental health needs, contributing to toxic patterns of emotional repression.

2. Misogynistic and sexist rhetoric. Certain subgroups—particularly in Pick-Up Artist circles—often focus on “techniques” to manipulate or coerce women into sex. This commodifies women’s bodies, reducing them to “goals” or “conquests,” which can foster an environment tolerant of harassment and emotional abuse. Anti-feminist narratives, which paint women or feminist movements as the source of men’s problems, are prevalent. The rhetoric can escalate to hate speech, incitements of violence, or calls for retaliation against women, reinforcing harmful “us vs. them” mentalities.

3. Promotion of aggressive behaviors. In some manosphere spaces, being aggressive or having power over others—especially over women—is glamorized as the hallmark of “real” masculinity. This can normalize or validate hostile behaviors. Although most men in these communities do not engage in violence, fringe elements sometimes romanticize or defend violent acts against women. The normalization of violent or abusive language can contribute to real-world harm and intimidation.

4. Narrow constructions of male identity. Manosphere discourse often dismisses or insults LGBTQ+ identities, equating anything outside heteronormative masculinity with weakness or deviance, perpetuating homophobia or transphobia. The communities frequently deride men who exhibit more “feminine” characteristics (e.g., empathy, nurturance, collaboration). This outlook propagates harmful messages about which traits “count” as masculine.

5. Fostering echo chambers. Online forums can create insular environments in which biased information and extreme narratives go unchallenged. This echo chamber effect accelerates the spread of toxic beliefs, demonizing opposing perspectives and discouraging critical self-reflection. In extreme cases (for instance, some Incel communities), men blame women and society for their personal difficulties. Such narratives can lead to radicalized views, including advocating for or justifying violence.

6. Impact on broader society. Content from the manosphere seeps into mainstream social media and pop culture. Public figures referencing manosphere talking points can legitimize harmful views, shaping social attitudes and policy debates around gender. By framing women or feminism as adversaries, these groups distract from legitimate men’s issues (e.g., high male suicide rates, workplace injuries, or lack of mental health support). Instead of constructive solutions, the focus can shift to blaming women or attacking social progress.

How did the manosphere become so prominent?

Toxic masculinity as a concept has deeper historical roots, but it began to gain broader public attention and appear more visibly online alongside the rise of certain internet subcultures in the early-to-mid 2000s. Over time, several factors caused this phenomenon to grow more pronounced and mainstream online, including the spread of social media platforms, the “blogosphere,” and specific online communities coalescing around men’s interests or grievances (often termed the “manosphere”).

In the late 1990s to early 2000s, a few pioneers laid the groundwork. Early internet message boards and blogging platforms provided spaces where individuals could congregate around niche interests. Men seeking dating advice or disillusioned by social shifts often found each other in these online pockets, laying the groundwork for communities that would later be labeled part of the manosphere. The term “toxic masculinity” itself started gaining traction in academic and activist circles around the 1990s, but it wasn’t yet a widespread part of internet discourse.

This was also the age of pickup artist culture. If you’ve never heard of it, you should probably be thankful. By the early 2000s, PUA gurus began selling e-books, hosting seminars, and frequenting forums dedicated to “game,” tactics for “seducing” women. Sites like “mASF” (alt.seduction.fast) were among the earliest forms of a proto-manosphere. While not all PUA content was openly antagonistic or misogynistic, many critics point to it as a precursor to the more toxic attitudes toward women that spread online in later years.

In the mid-to-late 2000s, the manosphere began a coalescence. Men’s Rights Activist (MRA) groups, which had existed offline, expanded their presence on dedicated sites like A Voice for Men (founded by Paul Elam in 2009, though its precursors and forums date earlier). Discussions often included legitimate concerns (e.g., family court issues) but also broader complaints about feminism’s influence, which could slide into hostile language toward women and “social justice.”

As blogging peaked in popularity, influential figures (like Rollo Tomassi with The Rational Male) emerged, giving structure to what became known as “red pill” philosophy. Many of these blogs framed men’s experiences through an antagonistic lens, fostering an “us vs. them” dynamic that critics argued perpetuated harmful stereotypes about both men and women.

We now move to the late 2010s, with the rise of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Content from men’s communities migrated to mainstream social media, where algorithmic feeds rewarded sensational or polarizing takes on gender and relationships. YouTubers and influencers (like pickup artists or “alpha male” coaches) started garnering large followings. This increased the visibility of content promoting rigid, often aggressive ideals of masculinity.

Sub-communities (e.g., MGTOW—Men Going Their Own Way, Incels, Red Pill forums) formed distinct online identities but frequently cross-pollinated ideas. The larger presence of these niche groups made it easier to encounter or share talking points revolving around anti-feminism, objectification of women, and other “toxic” narratives. Mainstream media and researchers began noticing these online phenomena, especially in light of high-profile incidents involving misogynistic online harassment (such as aspects of Gamergate in 2014).

From the mid-2010s to now, the manosphere grew to what it is today, with the help of influencers, celebrity figures, polarization and radicalization. Figures like Andrew Tate or former PUA personalities gained viral attention by espousing views that many labeled overtly misogynistic, garnering millions of views (particularly on platforms like TikTok) and sparking widespread debate about “toxic masculinity.”

High-profile bans or controversies (e.g., Tate being de-platformed) brought even more visibility to these discussions. Some segments of the manosphere, such as incel forums, became echo chambers for extreme forms of misogyny, occasionally leading to threats of violence or real-world attacks. This behavior further underscored societal concerns about the dangerous potential of online spaces that promote toxic masculinity and radicalize isolated or disenfranchised young men.

As you likely know, there’s been a lot of cultural pushback over the years. Movements like #MeToo (2017) and greater media focus on sexism and harassment provoked defensive or reactionary responses in parts of the manosphere, fueling confrontations online over what constitutes “toxic masculinity.” Simultaneously, more men’s mental health and wellness advocates rose to prominence, offering alternative visions of masculinity—countering some of the toxic narratives within these communities.

Where do we move towards healthier masculinities?

Encourage emotional expression. Challenging the stigma around men expressing sadness, fear, or vulnerability can help normalize open communication and reduce mental health struggles.

Promote positive role models. Highlight men who display empathy, cooperation, and kindness as masculine virtues.

Education and awareness. Incorporating discussions around healthy masculinity in schools, workplaces, and communities can foster early recognition of harmful norms.

Support systems and mental health resources. Increasing accessible resources specifically aimed at men can help them navigate societal pressures without shame.

Allyship with all genders. Recognize how toxic masculinity negatively affects women, gender minorities, and other men, and work to create more inclusive environments and policies.

Toxic masculinity is not about labeling all men—or masculinity in general—as harmful. Instead, it calls attention to restrictive norms that can lead to negative outcomes such as violence, poor mental health, and discrimination. By confronting and revising these harmful stereotypes, society can foster healthier forms of masculinity that benefit everyone, promoting emotional openness, well-being, and mutual respect.

What about the influence of the manosphere?

Not all men’s online communities are negative, and many discussions about masculinity are constructive and much-needed. However, the toxic strands of the manosphere can promote regressive or harmful ideas about gender roles, fueling sexism, homophobia, and aggressive male behavior. Here are some ways to combat these effects:

1. Promote health masculinity. Encourage spaces where men feel comfortable expressing vulnerability, seeking help, and supporting equality.

2. Teach critical media literacy. Teach individuals—especially young men—to evaluate online sources, question biased content, and understand context.

3. Community moderation. Platforms can implement stronger content moderation to limit the spread of violent or hateful rhetoric.

4. Mental health support. Emphasize the importance of therapy, peer support networks, and other avenues for men to address emotional and psychological challenges without shame.

Ultimately, challenging the toxic elements within the manosphere involves promoting nuanced conversations, encouraging empathy, and supporting men in ways that uplift rather than alienate, harm, or exclude others.

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