Since its release on Netflix this Wednesday, Louis Theroux's latest documentary has ignited intense discussion across social media platforms. Titled 'Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere', the ninety-minute programme follows the acclaimed journalist as he investigates how extreme online influencers, including Harrison Sullivan (known as HSTikkyTokky) and Myron Gaines, are manipulating young boys with their controversial ideas about masculinity.
Decoding the Secret Language of the Manosphere
Viewers of the documentary will encounter a range of obscure slang words and secret hand gestures used by these influencers. Terms such as 'red pills' and 'gymcels', once confined to the so-called 'manosphere', are gradually infiltrating mainstream discourse. To assist the public in understanding this cryptic language, the United Nations has developed a comprehensive Manosphere Glossary.
'Like many communities, the manosphere spreads its ideas with its own unique terminology and cultural references,' the UN explained. 'This includes coded language for gendered hate speech, pseudoscience and other harmful lies – even certain phrases that might be considered harmless outside of these online communities.'
While internet slang and the manosphere's glossary are constantly expanding, familiarising yourself with some common terms can help identify misogynist content in your social media feeds.
Key Terms Explained: From Red Pills to Black Pills
One frequently mentioned slang term in the documentary is the 'red pill'. This references the 1999 film The Matrix, where the protagonist Neo chooses between a red pill and a blue pill. 'Red pill ideology, or to be redpilled, means to wake up to a reality that the world favors women over men,' the UN clarifies in its glossary. 'It suggests that people who disagree have taken the blue pill.'
Within the manosphere, you might also encounter references to a 'black pill'. This represents the view among incels (involuntary celibates) that romantic prospects are biologically predetermined, and that 'inferior' men have no chance of forming sexual relationships with women.
Acronyms and Stereotypes in Manosphere Discourse
The glossary includes several acronyms commonly used across manosphere communities. AWALT stands for 'all women are like that', often employed to stereotype women negatively. FHO stands for 'female humanoid organism', which the UN describes as 'an insulting term meant to suggest women are not only less than men, but less than human.'
Other significant terms include MGTOW (men going their own way), a movement claiming society is rigged against men, and PUA (pick-up artist). According to the glossary, a PUA 'refers to individuals within a core manosphere ideology that teaches members how to coerce women into sex, as if a game, and mocks the idea of sexual consent.'
Character Archetypes: Stacy, Becky, and Chad
Three names frequently mentioned are Stacy, Becky, and Chad. These are not actual influencers but terms used to describe entire groups of people. Stacy represents an idealised, highly attractive woman considered unattainable, while Chad is her male counterpart.
'[Chad is] the archetype of an alpha male: a muscular, sexually successful man and the opposite of “incel” or “beta male,”' the UN explained. 'Often depicted in memes and used in racist contexts.' In contrast, Becky describes a woman perceived as less desirable, often with racialised or class-coded connotations.
The Manosphere Defined and Its Dangerous Impact
The manosphere is an umbrella term for online communities that promote narrow, aggressive definitions of masculinity. These groups propagate the false narrative that feminism and gender equality have undermined men's rights. They advocate that emotional control, material wealth, physical appearance, and dominance over women are key markers of male worth.
The UN hopes its glossary will help people identify subversive and harmful content online. 'The manosphere targets male audiences in all digital spaces, including social media, podcasts, gamer communities, and even dating apps,' it added. 'Many men and boys engage with the content in search of forums to learn about men’s issues. But the solutions and discussions veer far from healthy advice, promoting instead ideas of harsh self-discipline, emotional control and physical dominance over others, especially women and girls.'
Louis Theroux's documentary shines a light on how these extreme influencers manipulate vulnerable young audiences, while the UN's intervention provides crucial tools for decoding their insidious language and recognising dangerous ideologies before they cause further harm.
