Mapping the GerManosphere – How misogynist online movements target different generations

For over a decade, the manosphere, an online milieu consisting of incels, Pick-Up Artists, Mens Rights Activists, MGTOW, "redpillers" and other organised misogynists, has been active across online platforms. This spectrum is united by the conviction of a fundamental inequality of the sexes and a belief in male superiority.  The manosphere brought forth lone wolf terrorists who carried out deadly attacks. It serves as a space for dehumanisation and radicalisation. For right-wing extremists, but also occasionally for Islamist movements, manosphere milieus are also spaces for recruitment. In the study "Mapping the Germanosphere", the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the Cluster of Excellence „Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)“  researched the German-speaking Manosphere, its platforms, actors, strategies, networks and narratives. Drawing from this research, we will present, how manosphere actors and groups try to appeal to different generations, and which strategies they employ to recruit Gen-Z men. After our presentation, we want to discuss our findings with the audience.