The Huffington Post
After Louis Theroux’s latest documentary sparked a whole lot of conversation (and concern) over the growing popularity of ideologies shared by certain manosphere influencers, a parent has opened up about the subtle signs she noticed her sons were being influenced by such views years ago. For those who haven’t come across the term, the manosphere is “a collection of websites, social media accounts and forums dedicated to men’s issues, from health and fitness to dating and men’s rights”, according to Robert Lawson, associate professor in sociolinguistics at Birmingham City University. Yet it’s increasingly become associated with more extreme views – particularly anti-women and anti-feminist sentiments, as seen in Theroux’s documentary. The impact of this kind of content is concerning – and parents and teachers are seeing it trickle down to school-age children . Not only can it impact the mental health of boys and men, per UN Women , but it amplifies harmful sexist stereotypes, teachers dangerous social and dating behaviour, and makes both digital and real-life spaces more hostile for women and girls. Mandy Hickson, a former fast jet pilot turned motivational speaker, began to notice subtle changes in her sons , then in their mid-teens, seven years ago “before figures like Andrew Tate [a self-proclaimed misogynist influencer ] were widely known”. In an Instagram post , she noted their language, tone and the way they spoke about women gradually changed. “We started to notice a shift in attitude rather than behaviour initially, with small comments that didn’t quite align with the values we’d brought them up with,” she tells HuffPost UK. “For example, despite growing up in a home where both my husband and I worked equally and shared parenting responsibilities, they began questioning why I would ‘want’ to work at all. “There were comments suggesting that a woman’s role should be at home, and that men should be the providers. This was particularly surprising given they had grown up seeing a strong female role model in me as a former fast jet pilot.” At the same time, their views on success and self-worth were also shifting noticeably. “They began making quite extreme statements about money and status,” says Hickson. “For example, suggesting that if they reached a certain age and didn’t have significant financial success or material markers like expensive cars, they would see themselves as failures. “That kind of black and white thinking felt very out of character.” What did she do to address this? It wasn’t a case of simply shutting the conversation down. “It would have been easy to challenge or dismiss those views outright, but instead we tried to stay curious,” Hickson explains. “We asked questions like ‘Where have you heard that?’ or ‘Why do you think that matters?’, creating space for discussion rather than confrontation.” The couple also made a conscious effort to reinforce their own values – around respect, partnership, and the idea that success isn’t one dimensional – through everyday conversations. “It wasn’t about lecturing, but about consistently offering a broader perspective,” she adds. Experts generally agree lecturing teenagers is not an effective strategy, and listening without judgment is often the key to getting them to open up. Hickson notes she also began helping her sons develop critical thinking skills, particularly in terms of questioning the content they were consuming. “Rather than banning platforms or individuals outright, we talked about how algorithms work, how certain voices can be amplified, and why extreme views often gain traction,” she says. “That seemed to help them step back and question what they were seeing.” She advises parents to look for small shifts in language and attitudes (some boys might start referring to girls as ‘females’ , for example), not just behaviour. Her other tips include: Stay open and curious rather than immediately critical. Keep communication lines open, even when what you’re hearing is uncomfortable. Help your children question what they’re consuming, rather than simply trying to control it. Model the values you want them to hold, because that consistency really matters over time. “It’s not a quick fix, and I don’t think any parent gets it perfectly right, but staying engaged and present in those conversations is key,” she adds. In her Instagram reel, she also suggested boys need to actively be shown positive male role models because otherwise “the algorithm will show them something else”. “This isn’t about blaming boys, it’s about paying attention,” she ended. “Because I’ve seen how quickly it can happen and how quietly it can grow.” Related... My Child Was Being 'Red Pilled' – Here's How I Found Out Teacher Warns Of 'Trickle Down’ Effect Of Misogyny On Young Kids 'I Don't Need To Listen To You': Female Teachers Are Witnessing A Rise In Classroom Misogyny
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