Regulating Femininity in the Manosphere

Abstract This article examines how femmephobia, defined as the systematic devaluation and regulation of femininity, operates as a core ideological force within the manosphere, particularly through the influential podcasts of Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines large-scale computational text analysis with qualitative analysis, we document how manosphere discourse constructs rigid binaries of hegemonic and pariah femininity to police gender roles and sustain patriarchal dominance. Through valorization of submissive, hyper-feminine ideals and the vilification of autonomous or non-conforming femininities (i.e., pariah femininity or femme), these podcasts propagate a worldview that frames femininity as inherently threatening. We argue that femmephobia in the manosphere is not merely an expression of misogyny but a distinct form of gendered hate that incites stochastic violence and authoritarian gender regulation. The parasocial intimacy of podcasts, combined with platform affordances, amplifies femmephobic discourse, normalizing gendered violence and contributing to a digital ecosystem of networked misogyny and social control.