- Maria Darwish, Örebro University: Positive affect and remasculinisation in ecofascist propaganda
- Ozan Félix Sousbois, University of Stavanger, Margunn Bjørnholt, VID Specialized University & Hande Eslen-Ziya, University of Stavanger: Fantasy, power, and male hysteria: Norwegian manospheric cultures and the reconstruction of national imageries through sex, masculinities, and anti-feminist nostalgia
- Hanna Fossberg & Katrine Fangen, University of Oslo: Analysing militarized masculinities in far-right online spaces: The role of humour in gendered political discourse
- Joanna Lindström, Uppsala University: Low trait modesty and group-based relative deprivation: Basic psychological underpinnings of right-wing and misogynist extremism
Abstracts
Positive affect and remasculinisation in ecofascist propaganda
Maria Darwish, Örebro University & Lucas Gottzén, Stockholm University
Abstract: Masculinity in far-right extremist online propaganda is often portrayed through threatening images of dominant men in groups, holding weapons. However, a study on positive affect in ecofascist propaganda found that men are also depicted as ‘contemplative’—usually alone in spectacular nature, perhaps in awe of its vastness. Such constructions are at odds with the usual far-right extremist depictions of militant masculinity. This paper examines the role of positive affect in representations of masculinity in ecofascist propaganda. We provide examples of ‘the Militant man’ and juxtapose this construction with the less threatening ‘Contemplative man’. We discuss how these images potentially mobilize adherents by sparking feelings of purpose and reverence. Drawing on visual and multimodal critical discourse analysis, we demonstrate how the ecofascist discourse offers ‘positive’ masculine subject positions as protectors, warriors, fathers, and heroes. This positive promise of remasculinization contributes to making the ecofascist discourse appealing and powerful.
Fantasy, power, and male hysteria: Norwegian manospheric cultures and the reconstruction of national imageries through sex, masculinities, and anti-feminist nostalgia
Ozan Félix Sousbois, University of Stavanger, Margunn Bjørnholt, VID Specialized University & Hande Eslen-Ziya, University of Stavanger
Gender-neutral or pro-gender-equality policies in Norway are under attack by various manospheres and incel networks that perceive males as the primary victims in today’s sexual democracy. There has been a resurgence of anti-feminist networks locally and globally. This pushback, as a form of contestation seeking political and symbolic power, opposes feminist progress and engages with various socio-cultural and political domains. These groups argue that men suffer due to women's privileged position and claim that feminism has overstepped its bounds. We'll explore their arguments in light of Sousbois's (2021) political trauma theory, framing individual or collective traumas as results of historical events, in this case, gender equality policies.
These networks aim to reconstruct and redefine gender equality through a nostalgic, post-patriarchal mindset. Our analysis will primarily focus on how these communities politicize not just their rhetoric regarding the "emasculating of male power," but also their behaviours, aesthetics, digital presence, and communication methods. By examining Norwegian manospheric cultures through the lens of historical gender-political changes and policymaking, we'll delve into how anti-feminist and anti-gender communities envision a new societal model, constructing a pro-masculinist public sphere that reshapes Norwegian democracy and citizenship. To achieve this, we'll explore existing literature on manospheres in Norway and study publicly accessible content from Norwegian masculinist networks like MannsForum, along with related content on platforms like incel.is.
Analysing militarized masculinities in far-right online spaces: The role of humour in gendered political discourse
Hanna Fossberg & Katrine Fangen, University of Oslo
In the realm of online far-right communities, the intersection of militarised masculinities and the humour of war plays a significant role in disseminating gendered political and violent ideologies, particularly through the medium of memes, which combine text and images. This study delves into the portrayal of men and women within these spaces by examining a collection of threads on 4chan, a far-right imageboard, focused on the Russo-Ukrainian war. Within these discussions, we encounter a spectrum of themes, ranging from violent misogyny and transphobia to incel culture and the depiction of masculinity in the context of war, all expressed through humour, ridicule, and mockery. Our analytical approach involves a microlevel examination of how militarized masculinities are portrayed on these discussion platforms, with a specific emphasis on how memes perpetuate masculine stereotypes, including warriors, villains, heroes, and victims. Drawing upon four macro-theories of humour - incongruity, superiority, play, and relief - we explore how far-right online imageboards, which often feature a significant "incel" presence, depict gender roles and behaviours in the context of war. Our analysis builds upon Ruth Wodak’s framework for understanding far-right populist discourse and extends it to comprehend the extreme content shared on platforms like 4chan. Our findings indicate that these online communities legitimize violence by framing it as a response to perceived threats against traditional ideals, fuelling racialized conspiracy theories, and promoting users' self-perception as strategic experts in warfare. We argue that the normalization of violence, along with the pervasive antagonistic humour and language on these platforms, acts as a mechanism to exclude undesirable groups, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as religious and ethnic communities. Consequently, these spaces primarily target young white men, who use humour as a thinly veiled means to express violent misogyny. Another significant outcome of this study is the potential for radicalization among these individuals through seemingly unrelated humorous discussions about the Russo-Ukrainian war. Underlying the humour is often a subtext of misogyny and transphobia, creating a hostile environment for anyone subjected to such humour on these platforms. We further explore the various mechanisms of humour that engage and retain users on imageboards, including disparagement humour and the moral foundations theory. In conclusion, we find that political humour can increase the receptiveness of the intended message, while antagonistic humour is intrinsically linked to users' self-esteem, gender identity, and political affiliations.
Low trait modesty and group-based relative deprivation: Basic psychological underpinnings of right-wing and misogynist extremism
Joanna Lindström, Uppsala University
In the last decade, far-right movements (such as the alternative (“alt) right) and the men’s right’s movement have been gaining traction worldwide. Furthermore, right-wing extremism and misogynist extremism is growing concern in the West. Known right-wing extremists and individuals within far-right movements endorse the view that White people are increasingly disadvantaged in relation to ethnic minority groups. Similarly, known misogynist extremists and men’s rights activists endorse the view that men are increasingly disadvantaged in relation to women. From a psychological perspective, what these people have in common is that despite belonging to structurally advantaged groups, they still believe that their group is not getting what they are entitled to. Group-based relative deprivation (GRD)—the perception that one’s group is unjustly disadvantaged relative to other groups—is a key motivation for why people mobilize for their group. In a sample of “immigration critical” Swedes, we found that group-based relative deprivation predicted support for right-wing extremism, online hate speech, violent intentions and self-reported aggression towards immigrants. In follow-up studies we examined why some members of structurally advantaged groups view their group as unjustly disadvantaged relative to other groups. We proposed that personality (e.g., low modesty) can explain why some members of structurally advantaged groups experience GRD. In line with this proposal, we found that individuals from structurally advantaged groups (e.g., White Americans, men), who perceive their group as unjustly disadvantaged, tend to be low on trait modesty. In my ongoing research, I dig deeper into the link between personality (low modesty) and group-based relative deprivation through a series of experimental studies. My research has implications for understanding the psychological “roots” of right-wing and misogynist extremism.