The Male Complaint - by Simon James Copland (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Inspired by leaders such as Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson, the online Manosphere has exploded in recent years. Dedicated to anti-feminism, these communities have orchestrated online campaigns of misogynistic harassment, with some individuals going as far as committing violent terrorist attacks.

Although the Manosphere has become a focus point of the media, researchers and governments alike, discussions tend to either over-sensationalize the community or offer simplistic explanations for their existence. This book uses a mixture of historical and economic analysis, alongside actual Manosphere content, to delve deeper. With The Male Complaint, Simon James Copland explains how the Manosphere has developed and why it appeals to so many men. He argues that the Manosphere is not an aberration, but is deeply embedded within mainstream, neoliberal, social structures. For a cohort of alienated men, the promise of community provides a space of understanding, connection and purpose.

This insightful book dares to dig into the corners of incel communities and online spaces where misogyny thrives. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand, and do something about, this growing and worrying phenomenon.

Review Quotes

"The Male Complaint contextualizes the Manosphere -- an "intimate public" -- within the social and technological changes of the twenty-first century in this thoughtful and informative history that is genuinely engaging without resorting to sensationalism."
Naama Kates, writer, producer, and creator of the Incel podcast

"This is a rich and compelling account of the connective tissue -- emotional, cultural, economic and technical - which holds these communities of aggrieved masculinity together."
Debbie Ging, Dublin City University

"The Male Complaint calmly and thoughtfully analyses Manosphere content without ever descending into either apologism or moralistic condemnation."
Annie Kelly, UK correspondent for the QAnon Anonymous podcast

"At a time where online misogyny is spreading more than ever, The Male Complaint offers a refreshing and much needed analysis of the manosphere. Simon Copland provides a nuanced discussion of the complexities of some contemporary masculinities and how they depart from and reproduce existing structures and sentiments. This important book reveals the deeply destructive as well as nurturing dynamics of communities of the manosphere."
Jacob Johanssen, St Mary's University and author of Fantasy, Online Misogyny and the Manosphere: Male Bodies of Dis/Inhibition

"There is a great deal of focus these days about the challenges facing men today. I highly recommend The Male Complaint: The Manosphere and Misogyny Online by Simon James Copland. Dr. Copland's book is well-researched and explores the underlying causes of male loneliness and alienation in the world today."
Jed Diamond, PhD, author, The Irritable Male Syndrome: Understanding and Managing the 4 Key Causes of Depression and Aggression

About the Author

Simon Copland is Honorary Fellow at the Australian National University.