Podcast Summary:
New Books Network – Simon James Copland, "The Male Complaint: The Manosphere and Misogyny Online" (Polity, 2025)
Host: Morteza Hajizadeh
Guest: Dr. Simon James Copland
Date: September 12, 2025
Overview
This episode features an in-depth discussion with Dr. Simon James Copland about his latest book, The Male Complaint: The Manosphere and Misogyny Online. The conversation explores the rise of online male communities (the "manosphere"), their anti-feminist rhetoric, the socioeconomic factors fueling their growth, and the broader implications for gender politics and progressive movements. Dr. Copland offers nuanced insights into the origins, appeal, and dangers of the manosphere, while proposing more effective, inclusive alternatives for engaging disaffected men and combatting online misogyny.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Dr. Copland’s Research Journey
- Origins in Political Upheaval: Copland began this research after Trump’s first election and the Brexit vote, seeking to understand the unexpected social shifts of the era.
"I came across the manosphere and men's rights groups as what I considered to be one of these driving forces." (03:40)
- Evolution of the Manosphere: Initially obscure, the manosphere became central to Copland’s investigation into the socio-political changes that fueled populist and reactionary movements.
Definition & Anatomy of the Manosphere
- What is the Manosphere?
- Online spaces (social media, forums, blogs) where mostly men—and occasionally women—congregate to discuss men’s interests, often through a distinctly anti-feminist, misogynistic lens.
- The core ideology: society has been feminized, men are now oppressed, and must fight back against feminism.
"The primary belief ... is a belief that society has turned against men, that has become feminized..." (08:36)
- Key Subgroups:
- Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs): Evolved from the 1970s, initially as a response to second wave feminism.
- Incels: “Involuntary celibates,” men who believe they are inherently undateable, often blaming women and sometimes turning to violence.
- Pickup Artists: Teach manipulative techniques ("game") to seduce women, often monetizing vulnerable men.
- Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW): Advise men to avoid women and relationships entirely, despite ongoing obsession and resentment.
"Ironically, they do this... while at the same time spending all their time talking about women and complaining about women." (12:45)
Societal Backlash & Historical Parallels
- Recurring Themes:
- Backlash to feminism is a cyclical phenomenon; similar rhetoric appeared during periods of upheaval from 17th-century Spain to 20th-century America.
"Whenever there is this... economic or a kind of a social crisis, women usually get blamed for that." (21:52)
- Witch trials were cited as an early example of blaming and controlling women during socioeconomic transformation.
The Allure of the Manosphere for Young Men
- Economic & Social Insecurity:
- Young men turn to these groups amidst precarious job markets, housing crises, and a perceived loss of traditional gender roles.
- Leaders like Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson offer simple, enemy-focused solutions.
"Figures such as Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson... are capitalizing on that and they're selling a really simple story: women are to blame for this." (17:10)
- Cultural & Neoliberal Factors:
- Neoliberal policies erode collective, community-based missions, isolating individuals ("the mission to manhood" is replaced by shallow self-help and vanity).
Progressives, Identity Politics & Messaging
- Handling Men’s Grievances:
- Common male grievances (suicide rates, educational achievement gaps, workplace deaths, loneliness) are real, but are often misattributed to feminism rather than broader systemic issues.
"Those statistics are all very real... The way we do that is to engage in the root cause of the problem..." (27:00)
- Constructive Engagement:
- Rather than dismissing these complaints, progressives must acknowledge the underlying material realities and avoid solely cultural or individual explanations.
- Identity politics is helpful when connecting unique oppressions to broader systems (capitalism, patriarchy), unhelpful when it pits groups against each other.
Critique of “Toxic Masculinity” (34:16)
- Benefits & Limits:
- Useful as a shorthand for harmful behaviors, but overly simplistic.
- Risks implying inherent, unchangeable traits in men, while ignoring historical, cultural, and material specificities.
"Toxic masculinity as it's used often ignores... broader material realities that can play out." (36:40)
- Policy & Cultural Gaps:
- Overfocus on cultural reform (e.g., education, workshops) at the expense of regulating industries (alcohol, gambling) shown to drive domestic violence.
The Dangers of “Cruel Optimism” (49:17)
- Concept Borrowed from Lauren Berlant:
- The manosphere offers men hope (by “taking back control,” regaining traditional stature) that is ultimately unobtainable and cruel, feeding frustration and rage.
"The manosphere sells snake oil which they sell as a potential optimism to get out. But then it doesn't ever find that..." (50:12)
Nationalism, Anti-Politics, and Online Radicalization
- Distrust of Politics:
- Deep skepticism towards governments seen as captured by feminists or “globalists.”
"A lot of the manosphere and the far right figures are doing a really, really, really good job of selling that government is the problem." (43:20)
- Embrace of Nationalist/Racist Narratives:
- Nostalgia for a mythologized, racially exclusive national past, merging with misogyny and homophobia.
Solutions: Building Inclusive Alternatives
- Community Beyond Online Spaces:
- Rebuild diverse, real-world communities—unions and inclusive social movements—that address material needs and foster cross-group solidarity.
"Having face to face real communities is really important... we want to create diverse community, to introduce people to diversities of views." (63:29)
- Better Storytelling:
- Offer compelling narratives that speak to men’s real struggles but refocus blame onto systems and structures, not women or minorities.
- Engagement, Not Exclusion:
- “Punitive” measures (deplatforming, policing) alone can heighten persecution complexes and drive radicalization, rather than solving root issues.
"...it actually increases the cruelty of the world for these people... pushes people into darker corners that can radicalize them even further." (51:50)
- Learning from Progressive Successes:
- Cites campaigns (e.g., Mumdani in New York, Corbyn, Bernie Sanders) that rebuild inclusive, solidaristic politics—what “the left used to do.”
Hopes & Outlook for the Future
- Australia’s Crossroads:
- Australia has not yet seen movements as extreme as elsewhere, but remains vulnerable to future social and economic shocks.
"We have to decide when it starts to hit us, what are the paths we go down..." (67:02)
- Room for Optimism:
- Mass mobilizations for progressive causes demonstrate untapped potential for community and collective action—but require proactive, positive mobilization.
"We have to mobilise for a different world, for a better world, not just to mobilise against the far right." (69:19)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the Myth of Reverse Oppression:
"The primary belief amongst all of the groups in the manosphere is a belief that society has turned against men, that has become feminized, that feminism... has now dominated our society so much that men have become the new oppressed class." (08:36)
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On the Allure and Danger of Simple Narratives:
"This story is really appealing because it's really simple. It gives you a very clear enemy." (17:58)
-
On the Problem of Toxic Masculinity as a Concept:
"What it suggests is that there are inherent traits that exist within men that are inherently toxic... It ignores a lot of the material realities..." (35:53)
-
On Dealing with Disaffected Men:
"We need to be able to develop a better story, a story that identifies the real enemies, because there are real enemies. There are oligarchs who are running our society who are profiting off people's pain." (56:14)
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On Building a Healthier Alternative:
"Community... is a really important starting point. Communities can't just be online... and also communities can't be homogenous." (63:17)
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On Hope and the Need for Progressive Organizing:
"We have to mobilise for a different world, for a better world, not just to mobilise against the far right." (69:19)
Important Segment Timestamps
- 02:49 – Copland shares research origins post-Trump election, link to rise of the manosphere
- 06:21 – The Joker film as metaphor for incel/Manosphere rage
- 08:36 – Definition of the manosphere and its subgroups
- 15:59 – Why economic and cultural insecurity drive young men to the manosphere
- 24:42 – "Mission to manhood," the loss of social purpose, and neoliberal effects
- 34:16 – The limits and misuses of the concept of "toxic masculinity"
- 43:08 – The manosphere’s embrace of nationalism, anti-politics, and conspiracy
- 50:01 – Manosphere as "cruel optimism" and why punitive measures often backfire
- 61:01 – Importance of balanced critique, recognition of legitimate grievances
- 63:13 – How to build inclusive, healthy alternatives to the manosphere
- 66:43 – Copland’s mixed outlook on the future and need for proactive progressive movements
Tone & Language
Copland maintains a tone that is both analytical and empathetic, aiming for nuance rather than demonization. He acknowledges legitimate grievances where they exist, critiques the progressive movement where warranted, and emphasizes the need for self-reflection, solidarity, and systemic analysis.
Takeaway
This episode provides a comprehensive, nuanced exploration of the manosphere, its cultural and economic foundations, and strategies for progressive engagement. Dr. Copland urges a shift from blame and exclusion toward building solidarity-based, materially rooted alternatives that can genuinely address the crises exploited by misogynistic online movements.