Is Online Content within the 'Manosphere' Making Young Men More Conservative?

Abstract

The aim of this research is to uncover to what extent politically conservative and sexist attitudes in young men are associated with consumption of Manosphere content. Manosphere content is content that focuses on ideas surrounding toxic masculinity, and in more extreme cases anti-feminism and misogyny. Content within the Manosphere exists online in the form of YouTube videos, blogs, and podcasts. The primary audience that engages with Manosphere content are young men.  

The focus of this research project will be the results of a survey to test for associations between politically conservative and sexist attitudes in young men and engaging with podcasts within the Manosphere. This survey of university students will ask questions about political ideology, attitudes towards women, and what podcasts are listened to, based on the most popular podcasts on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple podcasts. The responses from this survey will be used to test for associations using statistical methods. 

The expected findings of this research are individuals who consume more Manosphere content are expected to have stronger associations with sexist attitudes towards women, and conservative ideology. The significance of this research is that associations between consumption of Manosphere content, and sexist attitudes and political ideology may serve as an explanation to the shift towards political conservatism in young men.