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A threatened masculinity? The role of status threats and anger in misogynistic engagement

Renström, Emma A. LU and Bäck, Hanna LU orcid (2026) In Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
Abstract

Why are some men attracted to misogynistic groups? Drawing on literature on intergroup threat, we hypothesize that men who perceive that their status is threatened are more likely to engage with misogynistic groups. We also hypothesize that anger reactions to such threats is an important mechanism explaining why perceived masculine status threats lead to such engagement. In a survey (N = 2,751) we find that perceived masculine status threat, measured as belief in a sexism shift, is related to higher engagement with the manosphere among Swedish men. In three survey experiments (Ns = 608, 661, 593) we manipulated masculine status threats, using fictive social media content, and measuring anger as an emotional reaction to the threat. We... (More)

Why are some men attracted to misogynistic groups? Drawing on literature on intergroup threat, we hypothesize that men who perceive that their status is threatened are more likely to engage with misogynistic groups. We also hypothesize that anger reactions to such threats is an important mechanism explaining why perceived masculine status threats lead to such engagement. In a survey (N = 2,751) we find that perceived masculine status threat, measured as belief in a sexism shift, is related to higher engagement with the manosphere among Swedish men. In three survey experiments (Ns = 608, 661, 593) we manipulated masculine status threats, using fictive social media content, and measuring anger as an emotional reaction to the threat. We find an indirect effect of threat via anger in all three studies on intentions to engage with the manosphere (Study 2), with men’s rights groups (Study 3), and generally with groups working to improve men’s status (Study 4). The results provide a better understanding of why men may react to potential threats to their status with higher engagement with misogynistic groups, for example on the manosphere.

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author
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
intergroup threat, manosphere, masculinity, political engagement
in
Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:105032202385
ISSN
1368-4302
DOI
10.1177/13684302261426263
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
id
bfaf4779-1590-440d-a9b9-b7a603cc1464
date added to LUP
2026-04-22 15:35:09
date last changed
2026-04-22 15:36:07
@article{bfaf4779-1590-440d-a9b9-b7a603cc1464,
  abstract     = {{<p>Why are some men attracted to misogynistic groups? Drawing on literature on intergroup threat, we hypothesize that men who perceive that their status is threatened are more likely to engage with misogynistic groups. We also hypothesize that anger reactions to such threats is an important mechanism explaining why perceived masculine status threats lead to such engagement. In a survey (N = 2,751) we find that perceived masculine status threat, measured as belief in a sexism shift, is related to higher engagement with the manosphere among Swedish men. In three survey experiments (Ns = 608, 661, 593) we manipulated masculine status threats, using fictive social media content, and measuring anger as an emotional reaction to the threat. We find an indirect effect of threat via anger in all three studies on intentions to engage with the manosphere (Study 2), with men’s rights groups (Study 3), and generally with groups working to improve men’s status (Study 4). The results provide a better understanding of why men may react to potential threats to their status with higher engagement with misogynistic groups, for example on the manosphere.</p>}},
  author       = {{Renström, Emma A. and Bäck, Hanna}},
  issn         = {{1368-4302}},
  keywords     = {{intergroup threat; manosphere; masculinity; political engagement}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Group Processes and Intergroup Relations}},
  title        = {{A threatened masculinity? The role of status threats and anger in misogynistic engagement}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13684302261426263}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/13684302261426263}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}