Gamers, Memes & Incels: A Review of Online Anti-Feminism and Misogyny
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Date
2024
Authors
Koester, Ethan
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
In the wake of what amounts to the biggest blow to feminist political activism in the 21st century, the overturning of Roe V. Wade, Americans are becoming increasingly divided on feminism; a 2022 poll found that 37% of respondents agreed with the statement that “Feminism has done more harm than good” and that a majority of men under fifty agreed with the statement (Miller 2022). This paper investigates the cultural attitudes that pervade the culture of these younger men, specifically in online circles. Through casual misogyny in the gaming community, online memes, and antifeminist political organizing, a negative caricature of feminism has been created in online discourse that has material outcomes for the treatment of women in online spaces. These misogynistic tropes can be traced through the Anti-feminist movements of the late 19th and 20th century and represent a continuation of imbedded cultural ideals of gender essentialism and patriarchy.
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Keywords
Feminism, Anti-Feminism, Misogyny, Online Culture, Mens Rights Movement