The ‘manosphere’ is a diverse ecosystem of anti-women and pro-sexist online communities, influencers, and platforms. There is growing public concern about its impacts, particularly in feeding sexism, violence, insecurity, and hostility among boys and young men. And there is growing policy attention to possible prevention and intervention strategies. In this Dean’s Lecture, Australian sociologist and prominent researcher on men, masculinities, and violence prevention, Professor Michael Flood, provides a guided tour through the manosphere: what it is, how it is changing and being mainstreamed, how men and boys come to participate, and the impacts of the manosphere both on its participants and in wider society. Flood will then explore what parents, educators, and policy makers can do, to minimise the harms of the manosphere and to foster healthier, more equitable lives for men and boys and those around them.
The YouTube video of this public lecture is here:
The slides are available here.
Citation: Flood, M. (2026). Understanding the Manosphere: Risk, Reach, and Responses. Dean’s Lecture, Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, August 26.