This book and its author have been on my radar for a while. I was aware of Laura Bates’s work through her activism and the Everyday Sexism project. Since reading Men Who Hate Women, I’ve also listened to a few podcast episodes featuring her: she has a new book out that explores AI and its role in sexual violence… scary stuff.
Men Who Hate Women is a powerful and deeply engaging read that explores incel culture and the broader ecosystem of misogynistic online communities. Bates dives into various subcultures and subgenres, backing her insights with data and studies. Many of the themes she discusses echoed thoughts or intuitions I’ve had myself, and it was affirming, or actually unsettling, to see them articulated and backed with evidence.
The lack of parity in labelling misogynist violence as terrorism and the convoluted ways in which these crimes are excused and justified is staggering.
I respect the book’s intersectional approach. Bates thoughtfully connects misogyny with racism, white supremacy, and the rise of the far right.
Reading this a few years after its publication adds another layer; you can clearly see how the landscape has evolved, or, more accurately, devolved. The crisis she outlines still feels under-acknowledged, and perhaps even more urgent now.
I also appreciate how empathetic and nuanced her approach is. She doesn’t dehumanise all the individuals within these toxic communities. Her analysis is thorough, well-argued, and thought-provoking.
This is an important and, at times, challenging read due to its subject matter, but it’s incredibly well-written and necessary. I’m looking forward to reading her new book, The New Age of Sexism, which sounds extremely timely…
One word: enraging.
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