In recent years, the conversations about gender have started to shift. For decades, feminism has been a prominent movement supporting women’s rights and equality, with roots going back over a century. However, more recently, a different kind of movement has begun to gain visibility as well – seen as opposing the feminist movement.
Often referred to as the “Manosphere” or the “Red pill” community, this space is made up of online communities and voices focused on what it means to be a man today. The content shared there appears to be about self-improvement, but reinforces male stereotypes and values materialism. Some content discourages the men from feeling sad and vulnerable, or teaches them that they are born without value, particularly in contrast to women. The recently aired documentary by Louis Theroux – “Inside the Manosphere” takes a closer look at this growing movement, exploring why it resonates with so many people and what it says about the current moment.
At the heart of the documentation are four main figures whose lives Theroux shows in general depth. Although their backgrounds differ, they share one important trait – each of them has gained a large online following within the manosphere community. To their audience, they appear as confident role models. Men who claim to have discovered the secret to masculinity and success, often promoting their advice as a way to ‘escape the matrix’ of the current life norms. Their viewers treat them almost as mentors, looking at them for guidance on how to start living differently.
However, as the documentary progresses, a bigger and more complicated picture starts to emerge. Away from their platforms, these men often appear a lot less certain of themselves. In some moments, they openly share that they do not always live according to the things they promote. One of them even admits that he’s aware of how influential and harmful this type of content can be for the young boys that watch him. But he also explains that this is content and it is the parents’ job to control what type of media their kid consumes.
But then, here comes the bigger question. Is this whole thing just for views, popularity and money? If the creators themselves do not fully believe the messages they promote, what does that say about the content they produce? For a lot of the influencers today, creating an online persona is simply a part of their job. In that sense, the idea of performing in front of the camera is nothing new. However, the issue becomes deeper, when this content shapes young people’s ideas of identity, relationships and self-worth.
And this is where the red pill type of content becomes more concerning.
a woman present during a conversation is even referred to as a “dishwasher”
One of the most noticeable themes in the documentary is how toxic behaviour is connected to the idea of masculinity. Several of the men openly express views that reduce women to traditional roles in the home. At one point, a woman present during a conversation is even referred to as a “dishwasher” confirming their beliefs that women are mainly responsible for domestic work.
The men also talk about believing in one-sided monogamy, where women are expected to stay loyal while men can have multiple partners. At the same time, they argue that women secretly want this kind of relationship and that their behaviour is actually “for women.” Throughout the documentary, they also claim that men are the ones who build and maintain society.
Another idea they repeat is that women are “born with value” because of their beauty, while men are born without value and must earn it by proving themselves to other men. When these beliefs are presented as confident advice to large online audiences, they can have a strong influence on young viewers who are still forming their understanding of relationships and gender roles. Messages like this risk establishing harmful stereotypes and pushing back against progress toward equality.
But whether the viewers liked the documentary or not, it has clearly opened a door for an important conversion. In a time when it can feel like anything associated with women is quickly criticised or mocked, “Inside the Manosphere” challenges this narrative by exposing the reality behind what these influencers try to project.
Rather than presenting them as powerful or admirable figures, the documentary often reveals how insecure and contradictory their views actually are. In many ways, it shows that the lifestyle they promote is far less impressive than it appears on social media.
Because of this, it becomes the responsibility of rational viewers not only to recognise these contradictions but also to speak up when they encounter harmful ideas. Movements like this often grow through trends and attention. The less desirable and socially accepted these attitudes become, the less appealing they will be for the young boys that follow them.
Writer: Aleksandra Liubenova
