Myth: The manosphere is about men's self-improvement

It seems like the term "manosphere" is everywhere these days, from news headlines to documentaries. On the surface, some of these online spaces can look like they’re simply about self-improvement. There’s content about dating, fitness, money, and men's rights. But actually, the manosphere is much more than just a self-improvement space. In this episode, we'll unpack what the manosphere is, what's behind its rise, and why this "self-help" content can become an entry point to misogyny and harmful ideas about what it means to be a man. GATE’s Busted podcast is made possible by generous support from BMO.Featured guests: Dr. Luc Cousineau, Recreation Management Director, Instructor and Internship Coordinator, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University Jillian Sunderland, PhD Candidate, Sociology, University of TorontoResources:Brito, P., Hayes, C., Lehrer, R., & Mahler, J., Salinas Groppo, J. (2024). The Manosphere, Rewired: Understanding Masculinities Online & Pathways for Healthy Connection. Washington, DC: Equimundo. https://www.equimundo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Manosphere-Rewired.pdf Cousineau, L. (2023). “Are there any other male friendly subs on here?” - online men’s rights groups as simultaneous communities of care and hate, inclusion and exclusion. Leisure, Inclusion, and Belonging 47(4), https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2023.2252812Sunderland, J. (2025). The rise of the ‘performative male:’ How young men are experimenting with masculinity online. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-the-performative-male-how-young-men-are-experimenting-with-masculinity-online-268742Sunderland, J. and Foster, J. (2026). From gym to jawline: What looksmaxxing says about modern masculinity. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/from-gym-to-jawline-what-looksmaxxing-says-about-modern-masculinity-277130 Produced by: Carmina Ravanera and Dr. Sonia Kang Edited by: Ian Gormely