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Anyone who’s had a conversation with a chronically online friend or family member knows how concepts, slang and jokes bleed from the digital world to the real one.
Sadly, this is true for more than just incomprehensible terminology. In the case of the dark world of the manosphere, it’s violence, misogyny and pseudoscience that have already started to affect lives offline.
In the final part of our Mapping the Manosphere series, experts Stephanie Wescott and Steven Roberts explain how manosphere views are becoming more prevalent among boys and men, hurting them, the people around them and society more broadly.
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Erin Cooper-Douglas
Public Policy Editor
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Stephanie Wescott, Monash University; Steven Roberts, Monash University
Normalising violence, worsening body image and sexist attitudes are among the manosphere beliefs that are bleeding into relationships and workplaces.
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Lisa Denny, University of Tasmania
High rates of outright home ownership combined with tax-free super insulate older Australians from mortgage rate fluctuations.
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Penny Van Bergen, Macquarie University; Amy Bird, University of Waikato; Kellie Buckley-Walker, University of Wollongong
You can try deflecting questions with a general comment such as, ‘I’m happy enough!’
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Myles McGregor-Lowndes, Queensland University of Technology
Evidence shows giving to others is associated with better mental health.
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Juan Zahir Naranjo Cáceres, University of the Sunshine Coast; Shannon Brincat, University of the Sunshine Coast
The Trump administration is reviving the Monroe Doctrine for Latin America. The aim: keeping China out and securing oil and resources for itself.
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Anthony Scott, Monash University; Terence C. Cheng, Monash University
Private hospitals perform around 70% of elective surgery in Australia. But many are in financial trouble.
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Jonti Horner, University of Southern Queensland
Unlike some other over-hyped meteor showers, this one is the real deal.
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Sadaf Sagheer, RMIT University; Lauren Gurrieri, RMIT University; Torgeir Aleti, RMIT University
Research has shown gendered marketing in toys can shape kids’ future aspirations.
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Michael Falk, The University of Melbourne
Are people willing to believe in AI because it taps into myths that are deeply ingrained in their imaginations?
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
A new report shows 33 of the 113 deaths in custody in 2024–25 were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. It’s the highest number in 40 years.
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Health + Medicine
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Juliet Bennett, University of Sydney; Alex Broom, University of Sydney; David Raubenheimer, University of Sydney
In new research, parents described Australia’s Health Star Ratings as ‘misleading’, ‘not helpful’ and ‘on the wrong product’.
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Business + Economy
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Fiona Hurd, Auckland University of Technology; Suzette Dyer, University of Waikato
What happened to Tokoroa this year underscored the fragility of NZ’s manufacturing base – and the consequences for local communities when decisions are made elsewhere.
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Environment + Energy
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Vera Xia, University of Sydney
Hidden in city car parks or warehouses, smart greenhouses promise to bring farming back to the city. But can the technology boost resilience?
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Shawna Foo, University of Sydney; Maria Byrne, University of Sydney
This is especially worrying because these massive corals are normally quite resilient to heat stress. Even the strong are now struggling to survive.
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Arts + Culture
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Karen Cummings, University of Sydney
In the play Cowbois, rugged individuality and hypermasculinity are challenged and eventually replaced by joy, freedom and resistance.
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Joanna Mendelssohn, The University of Melbourne
After the Rain, curated by Tony Albert, celebrates the resurgence of Australian Indigenous cultures after the loss of the referendum.
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Chari Larsson, Griffith University
A new exhibition at QAGOMA gives visitors a sense that they are sharing the gallery space with a sun.
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Books + Ideas
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Josephine Barbaro, La Trobe University; Marguerite Hawke, La Trobe University
The book Someone Like Me offers deeply human insights into what it means to live in a neurotypical world as a neurodivergent person.
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Pay teachers better
"As someone with two teenagers, school attendance is an issue – but in Australia it reflects many factors not even mentioned in this article. The incredible disparity between public and private schools being a major factor, as well as the loss of teachers due to burn out, primarily due to lack of remuneration. Quality attendance will only occur when these factors are addressed and students can have the engagement they need from supported, time-rich teachers."
David Clarkson 
Out for a profit
"Yes, we should all be concerned about child safety, and not just online. However, I do think it’s unfair to imply that the current negative consequences of social media are due to 'the failure of a digital ecosystem built on profit rather than protection'. I’m not suggesting that that’s NOT the case. But ALL industries can be tarred with the same 'profit rather than protection' brush. We shouldn’t single out the digital ecosystem. Why should we expect one industry to put people first when we condone the harm done by all the others?"
Kim Ter-horst, NSW
A manosphere (article) fan
"Just a quick message, prompted by the reader who disliked the format of [Monday’s] manosphere article. I actually thought it was fantastic."
Beth Ebert, Windsor VIC
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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Charles Darwin University
Alice Springs Northern Territory, Australia
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Full Time
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