The danger of throwaway misogyny: Sorcha Eastwood vs Andrew Tate

On January 10 2025, Sorcha Eastwood, MP for Lagan Valley, issued legal proceedings against Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate, following a series of incendiary and misogynistic posts on X. Eastwood, a survivor of abuse who has received rape threats in her role as a Member of Parliament, has been unflinching in her mission to educate how ‘throwaway misogyny’ online fuels real-life violence and hostility against women and girls.

Contrastingly, Tate, a self-described misogynist, boasts a following of over 10 million on X, despite being banned from platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok for spreading hate speech. His fame rests on a strategy of provocation and selling a version of masculinity rooted in dominance, control, and disdain for women. He has called women “property”, said rape victims should “bear responsibility”, and suggested that women are “intrinsically lazy.” Tate attracts young men with a mix of motivational content on fitness, discipline, and financial independence, deliberately interwoven with messages that normalise destructive power dynamics and violence, designed to hook and radicalise vulnerable minds.

However, Eastwood’s lawsuit is a response to specific attacks. Following Eastwood’s speech in Parliament on violence against women and girls, Tate targeted her with posts that went beyond personal attacks to reinforce broader misogynistic tropes. He labelled her a “stupid, irrelevant nobody” and claimed she would “soon be forgotten,” contrasting her with himself, Trump, and Elon Musk, whom he described as the future. His language was dismissive, condescending, and steeped in the notion that women who speak out are insignificant and destined to fade away.

Even more troubling was the undertone of dominance in his rhetoric. Phrases like “inevitable conquest” reflect an attitude that normalises male supremacy, presenting women not as equals, but as obstacles to be eliminated. This is not simply online sparring. It is a deliberate effort to discredit and dehumanise a woman who dared to challenge the misogynistic ideals upon which his platform and reputation are built.

The failure to challenge everyday sexism in person, mirrors the acceptance of misogyny that thrives on social media

The offline consequences of online hatred
During her powerful speech in the House of Commons, Eastwood recounted one particularly chilling anecdote in which she revealed that a man had once approached her during a school visit and told her he wanted to rape her. This moment was met with stunned inaction by bystanders who remained silent. This inaction is deeply significant, reflecting the broader culture of silence and complicity that surrounds violence against women. By failing to intervene, the bystanders signalled a dangerous acceptance of such behaviour, effectively enabling the perpetrator and leaving Eastwood unsupported.

This culture of complicity and silence is not an isolated phenomenon. It is essentially linked to the casual misogyny that permeates online spaces. Eastwood’s assertion that throwaway misogyny online feeds into real-life actions underscores the dangers posed by figures such as Tate. The failure to challenge everyday sexism in person mirrors the acceptance of misogyny that thrives on social media. Casual comments, which some may dismiss as jokes, reinforce a cultural backdrop where women are dehumanised. This creates fertile ground for escalation, moving from online harassment to physical violence.

The tangible consequences of this normalisation are devastating. In Northern Ireland, for example, the reality of such violence is staggering. The region has one of the highest rates of femicide in Europe, with 24 women violently killed since 2020, accounting for 40% of all femicides on the island of Ireland, despite its smaller population. The patterns of complicity and silence, whether online or offline, enable the persistence of these shocking statistics, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.

The cumulative effect is a political climate that not only tolerates but promotes harmful attitudes toward women

The manosphere
The broader cultural acceptance of misogyny has been fuelled by figures in positions of power. For instance, Donald Trump’s return to the White House has strengthened the manosphere. Mansosphere is a term which refers to the network of online influencers endorsing damaging ideas of masculinity, uniting communities such as incels (involuntary celibates) and men’s rights activists. The manosphere thrives on perpetuating the belief that women are to blame for men’s failures and frustrations, often fostering a dangerous sense of entitlement and resentment. Nick Fuentes, a prominent white nationalist, Trump ally, and figure in the manosphere, celebrated the 2024 election results online with the phrase “Your body, my choice. Forever”, mocking feminist movements and signalling an agenda to further dismantle women’s rights.

Fuentes’ comment highlights how misogyny is intertwined with far-right ideologies. The phrase spread rapidly online, coinciding with increasing calls to repeal women’s voting rights and a flood of anti-abortion content. This rhetoric does not only embolden chauvinists, but it also increases legislative and societal regression, creating an environment where extremist views on gender are accepted.

Trump himself has aligned with prominent figures in the manosphere, appearing on podcasts with influencers such as Joe Rogan and Adin Ross. His willingness to engage with these individuals lends credibility to their views and exposes millions of followers to misogynistic ideologies. The cumulative effect is a political climate that not only tolerates but promotes harmful attitudes toward women.

For too long, society has treated misogynistic language and ideologies as fringe behaviours or harmless venting

Misogyny as extremism
It is becoming increasingly clear that misogyny and the wider manosphere ought to be recognised as a form of extremism. These ideologies operate in a similar manner to religious or political radicalisation, preying on vulnerable individuals to foster hate and violence. As previously mentioned, the manosphere serves as a hub for radical ideologies, reinforcing narratives that hold women responsible for men’s struggles, cultivating a dangerous sense of enmity which often transitions from digital discourse to physical acts of violence.

The incel (involuntary celibate) movement is a prime example of this. Incels, who blame women for their lack of romantic or sexual success, have produced perpetrators of mass violence. In 2014, Elliot Rodger murdered six people in California before killing himself, leaving behind a manifesto detailing his hatred of women and his belief in male superiority. Similarly, in 2021, Jake Davison killed five people in Plymouth, including his mother, before taking his own life. Davison’s online activity revealed an immersion in incel culture, including frequent references to women as the cause of his frustrations. These cases are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend as researchers have found that misogyny is a common thread in many extremist ideologies. For example, the Christchurch shooter, who killed 51 people in New Zealand in 2019, included anti-feminist rhetoric in his manifesto, illustrating how deeply ingrained gendered hatred is within the far-right ecosystem.

Recognising misogyny as extremism requires a fundamental shift in public perception. For too long, society has treated misogynistic language and ideologies as fringe behaviours or harmless venting. However, the evidence points to the contrary as these beliefs clearly fuel tangible harm, from harassment to murder. Misogyny is increasingly being viewed through a counterterrorism lens, as law enforcement is beginning to acknowledge that young men radicalised by influencers such as Andrew Tate can pose significant risks to society. Categorising misogyny as a form of extremism also empowers institutions to take proactive measures. By treating it as a societal threat rather than a cultural nuisance, governments and organisations can prioritise initiatives to combat it.

Empowering young men as allies
Countering the influence of the manosphere requires more than condemnation, it demands proactive engagement with young men to help them critically evaluate harmful narratives and embrace healthier, more inclusive views of masculinity. Polls reveal concerning trends as only 36% of men aged 16 to 29 agreed that feminism has done more good than harm, while one in five men in this age group viewed Andrew Tate favourably. Programmes such as Polmont Young Offenders Institute’s ‘positive masculinity’ initiative and campaigns by organisations such as Beyond Equality offer promising models, fostering empathy, challenging stereotypes, and encouraging respect as a core value. Young men need spaces for open conversations not only about the dangers of influencers such as Tate but also about the insecurities and fears that make such messages appealing. By addressing these root causes with empathy, rather than judgment, young men can be taught to reject these ideologies and embrace positive role models.

The warning signs are everywhere, yet many refuse to acknowledge the backward slide

Regression in progress
Eastwood’s fight against Tate serves as a stark reminder: misogyny, whether online or offline, is not trivial. For those who dismiss figures such as Tate as harmless or merely provocative, I would urge you to consider the cost of such normalisation. This is not an isolated issue; it is a part of a global regression. In the United States, abortion rights have been dismantled with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In the UK, cases such as Wayne Couzens and David Carrick expose deep-rooted misogyny within the police, where predators abused their positions of power. Globally, leaders who demean women and undermine gender equality are rising, most strikingly in the US, where a man found liable for sexual assault has now been sworn into presidential office. Closer to home, Andrew Tate has announced his intention to start a UK political party, leveraging his influence to push divisive and misogynistic ideologies further into the mainstream. The warning signs are everywhere, yet many refuse to acknowledge the backward slide. Denying this reality risks undoing decades of progress. We cannot allow this regression to continue.

Eastwood’s statement that throwaway misogyny online feeds into real-world behaviours holds undeniable truth. These influences are not harmless. They are the foundation of a culture that devalues women and leaves them vulnerable to harm. Turning a blind eye could determine whether we build a safer future or allow violence to persist and grow without restraint.