This week, we welcomed Bryn Spencer-Olson from Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) for the final installment of our Safe Schools Series on Preventing Sexual Violence in Schools. Bryn presented a terrific discussion on fostering and promoting Respect In Schools [the 2-hour recording is here, on YouTube].
As part of her presentation, Bryn touched on a phenomenon that was unknown to many participants: the manosphere – which may sound like a fictional comic book universe – but is actually very real.
The manosphere is a loose network of online communities focused on masculinity, dating, and gender roles. While some spaces promote self-improvement, others spread messages that frame girls and women as adversaries or claim men are unfairly disadvantaged.
Content is widely shared on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, where algorithms can quickly guide young viewers from general self-help content into more extreme narratives about gender and relationships.
For K–12 schools, awareness matters because many of these messages directly target adolescents who are still forming their identities and understanding of relationships. Schools can help by promoting media literacy, encouraging critical thinking about online content, and creating safe spaces to discuss respect, consent, and healthy relationships.
We invite you to learn more about the manosphere by joining us on Thursday, March 19th at 11:00am (Zoom). During this session of our monthly office hours, Thrive on (3rd) Thursdays, Erum Mohiuddin will share more about the online network and foster discussion about its impact on our students. No registration is necessary – just log on and learn with us!
