Descuartizadora’s Simplified Guide to Chauvinist-Misogynist Groups
The following was originally published in the Spanish-language zine Descuartizadora, which Guerrilla Translation is translating into English as part of our first Lovework Open Call. Individual articles, stories and poems will be translated and posted here one by one until all the content has been completed, at which point an English-language version of the zine will be formatted and made available in its entirety. We hope that this account of the world of imageboards sheds light on different ways that violence and patriarchy threaten online spaces.
At the end of February 2019, controversy erupted around Nido, a website where women, including girls and adolescents, were subject to systematic online attacks. This has led many experts to recommend caution with regard to sharing personal information on social media.
What many do not realize, though, is just how inundated digital technology is with the patriarchy. To make matters worse, the communications sector’s market-based approach has paved the way for different chauvinist-misogynist and/or fascist groups to establish their own spaces online.
The purpose of this guide is to familiarize the reader with such groups as well as the digital language of the patriarchy. Considering the rampant spread of misinformation and fake news, it’s important to stay informed of these groups and be prepared. For those who are new to the topic, we recommend starting with the website “Rational Wiki”, where you can find many articles of interest. From there, you’ll be equipped to continue your own general internet research.
Men’s rights movement (MRM).
Also known as “Men’s Rights Activism (MRA)”, or “The Men’s Human Rights Movement”. Among the chauvinist-misogynist groups mentioned, this is the most long-standing of them all and has been around since the rise of suffragist feminism. This movement considers feminism to be a threat to men, whose rights are supposedly sacrificed for the benefit of a small female elite. It should be pointed out, though, that this is not a separatist group, as there are women present in the movement.
MRA is often used as an umbrella term to refer to various like-minded groups, as part of what is broadly known as the “manosphere”.
Principal exponents: Warren Farrel, Cassie Jaye (director of the documentary “The Red Pill”), Robert Bly, Karen Straughan.
Men going their own way:
Also called MGTOW, MGTOWers or miggies, this group is also found within the manosphere. As the name indicates, it is a movement of men in search of their own path who feel vulnerable in the face of female power. They officially declare themselves to be a separatist movement, though gay men are not welcome.
MGTOWers make wide use of the trope of the “poor man” suffering economic abuse at the hands of women, whether on dates (where the man pays) or through alimony payments (as it is assumed that women always win such cases in court).
They are most active online, where they bombard social media platforms with comics about their misguided beliefs.
Incels:
This is still the most widely known toxic masculinity-based movement, as there have been actual terrorist attacks carried out in the name of incels. One of these attacks was committed by Elliot Rodger, who considered himself a part of the incel movement and, in an act of terrorism, killed six people in California, USA. Another was carried out by Alek Minassian, who launched his attack under the same banner and killed 10 people in Toronto, Canada.
What stands out about this group are their beliefs. They consider themselves to be “involuntarily celibate” (“incel” being a portmanteau of the two words) because of certain physical characteristics that prevent them from having sex with women. This is in contrast to “Chads”: men who do have the good looks needed to conquer the female species.
This mindset serves as the movement’s justification for its hatred towards women, whom they see as destined to copulate only with those who exhibit certain ideals. Considering that attacks have been committed under the incel banner, it is advisable to pay close attention to their activity.
Clarification: The Chilean website Gamba limits its definition of incels to followers of Kast, a far-right Chilean politician with a nazi family history. Despite the fact that both groups are linked to the alt right movement, not all fascists in Chile identify as incels.
Pickup artists
Some consider pick up artists to be the predecessors of incels. They comprise a movement that promotes non-consensual sex (rape) as a natural part – or result – of seduction. They teach tactics for picking up women that completely disregard consent. The goal is not a healthy sexual interaction, but rather a perverse approach to romantic relations.
The most visible face of the movement is US American Daryush Valizadeh (better known as Roosh V), who also contributed to the currently defunct website Return of Kings. When Roosh V attempted to give pick-up “classes” – for example, in Canada and Australia – he was met with protests.
Produced by Guerrilla Translation under a Peer Production License
– Translated by Timothy McKeon
– Edited by Alex Minshall
– Original Spanish-language story published in Descuartizadora 1
– Image taken from Descuartizadora 1