Danish men needed for a research project on the manosphere

Are you a man and active in online communities where issues like masculinity, gender roles, sex, and men’s issues are central? Or do you meet men with such experiences through your work?

A researcher from the National Institute of Public Health would like to hear about your experiences with the manosphere and understand the role these online environments play in your life as a man.

The term manosphere is a combination of "man" and "sphere" and refers to various online communities where men share thoughts on topics like masculinity, men’s rights, gender roles, societal movements such as #MeToo and feminism and topics like sex, involuntary celibacy, and dating strategies.

The research project is conducted by postdoc Katrine Bindesbøl Holm Johansen, who explores Danish men’s experiences and Danish communities within the manosphere:

"The manosphere is an international phenomenon receiving increasing media attention. In this project I aim to give the men involved a voice to understand their motivations for participating in these online spaces. Their engagement in these communities is about something and I aim to get a deeper insight into what these communities are about and what needs they fulfill for the men involved."

A response to societal changes

Internationally, the manosphere is seen as a reaction to decades of societal changes with an increasing focus on women’s equality. Some men feel they no longer have a place in a society shaped by feminist values and new norms in relation to gender roles and family life.

"Denmark ranks third in the EU Gender Equality Index 2023, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality. At the same time, national prevalence studies have shown that sexualized violence remains a gendered problem. For years, I have researched this paradox, and it is interesting to explore how Danish men in the manosphere perceive issues such as gender equality and gender roles," says Katrine Bindesbøl Holm Johansen.

Sex and sexualized violence

International research shows that some manosphere environments include discussions about sex and sexualized violence. Katrine Bindesbøl Holm Johansen will also investigate if and how topics such as sex and sexualized violence are present in Danish manosphere environments.

"These could include conversations about dating strategies, sexual experiences, non-consensual sex, sharing of nude images, the consent-based rape law, or the MeToo movement. The purpose is to examine whether such topics are part of Danish online manosphere communities and if they involve actions or attitudes."

Men’s own perspectives

Discussing subjects that can be considered controversial or a taboo with men can be challenging, but so far, Katrine Bindesbøl Holm Johansen has interviewed men who have shared their experiences from both Danish and international manosphere environments.

"The men I have interviewed so far have shared what has motivated them to take part in the manosphere communities. This is both about personal life experiences and societal issues they perceive as problematic. I have also talked with them about their lives outside the online world and their views or experiences related to content about sex and sexualized violence."

Would you like to share your experiences?

If you are interested in sharing your experiences with the manosphere, you can contact Katrine Bindesbøl Holm Johansen by phone or email at scanvio@sdu.dk. You may remain anonymous and write directly from a ProtonMail account. Follow-up contact can also take place on Discord.

All interviews will be anonymized. If you prefer, you can remain anonymous even to Katrine Bindesbøl Holm Johansen by omitting details such as your name and location.

The project is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (project number 3097-00032B).

Contact

Postdoc Katrine Bindesbøl Holm Johansen
Phone: +45 65 50 78 24
Email: scanvio@sdu.dk
National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark