Word of Mouth

The Language of the Manosphere


Listen Later

The 'Manosphere' is a group of loosely affiliated mainly young males who have developed a specialised vocabulary to discuss women online in a negative and hostile way. Some of the vocabulary is a response to feminism which some men claim is diminishing their role in society. For other men a failure to attract women has given rise to phrases such as Chad and Stacey and a belief in the 80/20 theory - that 80% of women are attracted to just 20% of men who are Alpha males or Chads.

Acronyms such as AWALT (All women are like that) and MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way) are also used for the purpose of internet dialogue.
Dr Jessica Aiston of Queen Mary University in London is one of several linguistic researchers who submitted evidence to the UK Parliament call for research into online misogyny. She tells Michael Rosen what that research has shown her and explains some of the terms used.

How did terms like “down the rabbit hole” and “gaslighting” enter the English language? How do other languages adapt expressions like these? Find out in an interactive guide with The Open University’s experts. Visit the BBC Radio 4Word of Mouth page and follow the links to The Open University.

Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Maggie Ayre, in partnership with the Open University.

Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Word of MouthBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

52 ratings


More shows like Word of Mouth

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,757 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,097 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

889 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,065 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,471 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,821 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,789 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,112 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,077 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,031 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

479 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

45 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

267 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

155 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

818 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

161 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

44 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

123 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,221 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

743 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,041 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

103 Listeners

Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

Radical with Amol Rajan

49 Listeners

Strong Message Here by BBC Radio 4

Strong Message Here

65 Listeners

What's Up Docs? by BBC Radio 4

What's Up Docs?

114 Listeners