Review by Booklist Review
Bates, the UK-based founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, reveals the involuntarily celibate (incels), pick-up artists (PUAs), Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOWs), and others who thrive in the online so-called "manosphere." She reports on pseudo-scientific arguments for male supremacy, fake statistics about false rape allegations, and psychobabble that purports to empower (white) men. Despite some differences, those in the manosphere are united in their sense that men are the real victims, that the #MeToo movement has gone too far, and that women are standing in the way of men's reproductive imperative, all of which is further fueled by a belief in white supremacy. And yet, the media treats these white men gently: those who shoot up sorority houses are lonely; those who shout misogynistic screeds are exercising free speech. And while Twitter and Facebook have been at the center of deplatforming discussions, Bates reveals YouTube as a major source of the online radicalization of young men. The threat of online misogyny must be treated as a terrorist threat, she argues in this sobering read that is both illuminating and necessary, especially for those who work with young men who are vulnerable to indoctrination.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Bates (The Burning), founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, examines "women-hating" online communities and their impact on real-world sexism and sexual violence in this distressing yet familiar exposé. According to Bates, the "manosphere" includes "incels" (members of online "involuntary celibate" communities), pickup artists, men who avoid women in order to prevent themselves from being manipulated by them, and men's rights activists who believe that men are the truly oppressed gender. Their ideologies are linked, she contends, by the belief that "all women are the same." Bates infiltrates misogynistic forums to reveal how they foster a sense of belonging in order to indoctrinate alienated young men, and discusses recent examples of how the manosphere manifests itself in the real world, including the Gamergate controversy, which "introduced the idea of troll armies to the mainstream"; Elliot Rodger's 2014 killing spree at the University of California, Santa Barbara, which has inspired other acts of incel violence; and characterizations of the #MeToo movement as a witch hunt. Though Bates offers little new information about who these groups are and how they operate, her argument that extreme misogynistic ideas are entering the mainstream is well-documented and persuasive. Readers will come away from this viewing the manosphere as a more serious threat. (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
As the creator of the Everyday Sexism Project and author of books such as Everyday Sexism and Girl Up, Bates has taken on the thankless role of exposing sexism in its everyday microaggressions. Her latest book dives deeper into deliberate, radical terrorist acts of gender-based violence against women. She tells the social history of pickup artists, including how this history long predates the internet. From there, she describes how pickup artists, incels, and men's rights activists have always had a close relationship with misogyny. Pivotal movements in popular culture are interspersed throughout, as mainstream media offers either a window into, or a mirror of, misogyny. In her examination of message boards within the men's rights movement, Bates reveals how anti-Semitism is common, as are racial and homophobic slurs. This isn't an easy read, and it shouldn't be. It is instead a timely account that exposes sexism in its basest, most explicit iterations while simultaneously showing how these practices are part of a systemic form of hate built into culture and perpetuated through microaggressions. VERDICT Well-researched and meticulously documented, Bates's book on the power and danger of masculinity should be required reading for us all.--Emily Bowles, Lawrence Univ., WI
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A leading women's rights activist explores online misogynistic communities and how they are increasingly infiltrating the real world. For nearly a decade since founding the Everyday Sexism Project, an online platform where individuals can share their experiences with sexism and inequality, Bates has endured daily messages from men "outlining their hatred of me, fantasizing about my brutal rape and murder, detailing which weapons they would use to slice my body open and disembowel me, describing me as a dripping poison." In order to better understand this violent hate, Bates infiltrated the "manosphere" under the guise of "Alex" for more than a year. Here, the author exposes the disgusting online world of incels, pickup artists, and other hate-filled groups that have become misogynistic training grounds for young, vulnerable males. Although each group is slightly different in its approach, Bates rightly contends that they all share a basic ideology: that "a feminist conspiracy has created a world stacked against men" and that "men are the true victims of inequality and abuse." At first, her claims may seem exaggerated, but as she reveals her research and often uncomfortable evidence, the true extent and ramifications of this disturbing behavior become apparent. In addition to psychological damage, individuals adhering to these principles are causing career disruptions, contributing misinformation that influences public policy, and creating barriers to free speech for both women and men. In response to these threats, Bates advocates for better education of children by parents and teachers, including challenging gender stereotypes and discussing the potential dangers and misinformation presented by online communities; increased moderation of social media outlets; continued public support from feminist males; and "the adoption of misogyny as a hate crime category." However, she warns, "none of these interventions will work unless we see the problem for what it really is and take it seriously." An astute, shocking exposé that also offers practical solutions. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
