I do not believe that talking about this kind of stuff is a way to diminish feminist battles” An online controversy in the Italian manosphere

The manosphere is often described as an online network of deviant subculture groups that harbor a hatred for women. However, the label “deviant” applied to manosphere groups does not fully capture the complexity of this phenomenon. While misogyny continues to characterize many men’s communities on the Internet, we are witnessing the emergence of a kinder, gentler form of men’s rights discourse that is likely to resonate more with educated, middle-class white men. The aim of this chapter is to determine whether the apparently progressive sensibility that characterizes this new form of men’s rights discourse merely serves as a new gateway to the misogynistic ideology of the Incel movement. To explore this nuanced area, the chapter focuses on the most well-known Italian online advocate for men’s issues: Marco Crepaldi. In June 2020, he made some controversial statements regarding the challenges faced by straight white males, sparking a polarized debate on social media. This chapter presents an investigation of the Crepaldi case, analyzing the discursive production of Crepaldi’s arguments and the outcomes of focus groups conducted with men and women aged 20 to 24 years old.