From Online Rhetoric to Dystopian Reality

The significance of this article lies in placing the novel, Tender Is the Flesh (2020), by Latin American author Agustina Bazterrica, within the contemporary discussions of manosphere activism and notions of manhood. Thereby, the article demonstrates how the dystopian backdrop of the novel reflects and amplifies the manosphere ideologies. Through a critical analysis of manosphere activism, the study locates and identifies key themes prevalent in manosphere discourse, such as male victimization narratives, rhetorical framing and distortion, racial hierarchies, weaponization of the penis, dehumanization strategies, and objectification and commodification of women. This study reveals the interconnected nature of manosphere communities and its potential real-world consequences through the standardization of misogynistic tropes. There seems to be an obvious gap in academic articles written in English, with regard to the Manosphere in Latin America. While there are scholarly articles central to Spanish and Italian manosphere, an exploration of the Latin American manosphere is of paramount concern. The importance of this article lies in its engagement with the concept of the manosphere and its analysis of a Latin American work.