Elliot Rodger was a 22-year-old man who carried out a massacre in Isla Vista, CA, in 2014. He killed six people and injured 14 before taking his own life. Rodger left behind a series of YouTube videos and a 107,000 word manifesto in which he expressed his deep hatred of women and frustration over being romantically rejected by them. His content reveals a belief in male entitlement to women’s attention, which characterizes many of the ideals of manosphere communities such as incels. He frequented incel message boards and chat rooms, and his attack is one of the most infamous examples of online radicalization leading to real-life violence.

Bates explores Rodger’s actions and ideology to warn of the dangers of misogynistic hate speech and online radicalization into manosphere groups. She also notes that, in the aftermath of his attack, Rodger was lauded as a “hero” across incel communities. Extremist members of the incel community talk about “going E.R.” and committing their own mass shootings, and other mass killers have directly referenced him or praised him when carrying out their own attacks. However, Bates says that in the wake of these attacks, their blatantly and explicitly misogynistic motives are often downplayed or ignored entirely by the media. She examines this disturbing trend of mass killers being worshiped with “cultlike devotion” in manosphere communities, which contributes to a cycle of misogynistic extremism. She also criticizes the media for failing to acknowledge when misogynist ideas underlie hate crimes.

Daryush Valizadeh (“Roosh V”) is a controversial figure within the “manosphere” and is known for promoting misogynistic views through his writings and online presence. Valizadeh initially gained notoriety for his “pickup artist” (PUA) content, offering manipulative advice on seducing women. Over time, his rhetoric became more extreme, shifting toward overt misogyny.

Bates highlights how figures like Roosh V exploit men’s insecurities and frustrations, profiting from their resentment. His inflammatory statements, including advocating for the decriminalization of rape on private property, exemplify the dangerous normalization of violent ideologies in digital spaces. Bates uses Valizadeh as a case study to show how these ideologies spread and gain legitimacy within online communities.

By examining his transition from a PUA to an alt-right misogynist figure, Bates underscores the interconnectedness of different strands of online misogyny. She argues that figures like Roosh V are not just fringe voices but influential drivers of hate speech, contributing to a broader cultural acceptance of violence and discrimination against women.

Warren Farrell is a prominent advocate for the Men’s Rights Movement (MRM). He is often cited as a leading voice in promoting the narrative that men are the primary victims of societal injustices, particularly in relation to issues like family law, domestic violence, and mental health struggles. Paul Elam, Farrell’s friend and protege, runs A Voice for Men, one of the most influential MRA websites.

Farrell’s books, including The Myth of Male Power, argue that modern gender relations have unfairly disadvantaged men. Bates critiques Farrell’s tendency to downplay or ignore the ways in which patriarchal systems inherently disadvantage women, framing his arguments as a distraction from the very real, ongoing inequality women face in society.

Bates argues that Farrell’s rhetoric is dangerous because it provides a platform for misogynistic ideas to be presented in a more palatable, seemingly rational form. By framing the discourse as a call for gender equality, he appeals to those who may not recognize the subtle ways in which his views actually serve to uphold traditional gender hierarchies and marginalize women’s experiences.

Jordan Peterson is a Canadian psychologist and professor. In Men Who Hate Women, Bates presents Peterson as a figure who uses his academic background to lend credibility to misogyny. Although Peterson presents himself as a neutral or objective voice, his arguments often uphold traditional ideas about masculinity and femininity, portraying these roles as essential to society’s functioning. His positions on gender, particularly his belief in biological determinism, align with the views of many manosphere members who seek to reinforce patriarchal structures. Bates cites him as an example of how academic credentials can lend an air of respectability to manosphere ideas and promote regressive gender stereotypes.

Donald Trump is the 45th and 47th president of the United States. Bates says that Trump’s history of sexist comments and behavior demonstrate how he reflects and amplifies harmful attitudes toward women. She argues that Trump’s rise to power has emboldened misogynistic sentiments.

Bates points out that Trump’s political platform, particularly his rhetoric about women, serves as a rallying point for many in the manosphere, where his views are seen as an affirmation of patriarchal values. In Chapter 7 of Men Who Hate Women, Bates explores how Trump dismisses accusations of sexual assault and belittles women, thereby creating a culture where misogyny is not only tolerated but embraced. His position of power gives weight to these misogynistic views, allowing them to spread further into mainstream culture.