{"id":43564,"date":"2026-04-07T06:33:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=43564"},"modified":"2026-04-07T06:33:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:33:00","slug":"sluts-simps-and-body-shaming-the-rise-of-africas-manosphere-global-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=43564","title":{"rendered":"Sluts, simps and body shaming: the rise of Africa\u2019s manosphere | Global development"},"content":{"rendered":"


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I<\/span>t is not just Europe and the US that are grappling with a growing landscape of misogynistic influencers online. While Andrew Tate, Myron Gaines, Sneako and other voices grow in toxicity in the manosphere of the west, across Africa \u2013 which has<\/a> more than 400 million people aged between 15 and 35 \u2013 several individuals are gaining traction.<\/p>\n

The manosphere is a loose network of communities that claim to address men\u2019s struggles such as dating and fitness, but often promote harmful misogynistic attitudes. Sunita Caminha, who leads UN Women on ending violence against women and girls in east and southern Africa, first started noticing its presence in Africa about five years ago, and believes it is on the rise. \u201cResearch and data that keeps coming out is very consistent [in] showing this is an alarming issue<\/a> in different countries and contexts across the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Awino Okech, a professor of feminist and security studies at Soas University of London, also started noticing harmful digital content expanding about five years ago, but says falsehoods peddled against women in Africa<\/a> predate the proliferation now online. \u201cThe ideas that shape the manosphere are linked to those of men\u2019s rights organisations like Maendeleo ya Wanaume. Its big argument was that men and boys were being left behind as a result of all of the investments that had been made around girls\u2019 and women\u2019s rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

This view \u2013 know as the red pill theory \u2013 has been amplified by the manosphere, framing men as the victims of a society distorted by feminism. The men who populate the manosphere have made it their mission to redress the balance \u2013 through domination and intimidation.<\/p>\n

The result? Women who voice ideas or opinions are threatened, harassed and hounded offline, and online abuse of female politicians is on the rise<\/a> globally. Experts say the atmosphere empowers some of the more extreme features of misogyny, including trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls and women, femicide, physical and verbal violence, stalking and domestic abuse.<\/p>\n

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\nQ&A<\/span><\/p>\n

What is technology-facilitated gender based violence (TFGBV)?<\/h4>\n

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As the world becomes increasingly digital, the spaces and methods for perpetrating gender-based violence are expanding and proliferating at an alarming rate.<\/p>\n

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is, as defined by the UN<\/a>, any \u201cact committed using information communication technologies or other digital tools, which results in physical, sexual, psychological, social, political or economic harm, or other infringements of rights and freedoms\u201d. The consequences are severe, affecting many aspects of women and girls\u2019 lives and often forcing them to self-censor or leave the online world altogether. The term reflects how technology can result in harm, both in the digital, and real, world.<\/p>\n

Millions of women and girls are affected by TFGBV every year with research suggesting that up to 60%<\/a> of women around the world have experienced this type of gendered abuse.<\/p>\n

TFGBV takes many forms. For example, doxing is the act of sharing someone\u2019s personal information online and can lead to stalking and physical violence in real life. Deepfake abuse, where manipulated images or videos are published online, can damage someone\u2019s reputation and have a lasting impact on their life. Sexual harassment, intimidation and sextortion are also common forms of TFGBV.<\/p>\n

It infiltrates homes, workplaces, schools and universities. It has no limits and can occur anywhere. It can start online and escalate into the offline world, or the other way around, culminating in the most extreme forms of violence, including femicide.<\/p>\n

Certain groups are more at threat \u2013 young women and girls, who are more likely to use technology and are therefore more exposed; women with disabilities, women of colour and LGBTIQ+ people; and women in political and public life such as parliamentarians, activists and journalists.<\/p>\n

There are huge gaps in data, policy and the law when it comes to TFGBV, and several international organisations have been working with governments<\/a> and the tech industry to combat the issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n