Antifeminist ¡°online manosphere¡± groups are making misogynistic misinterpretations of cutting-edge evolutionary research that stresses ¡°female sexual agency and assertiveness¡±, according to a paper which urges scholars to combat the trend ¨C including by avoiding terms like ¡°cuckold¡±.

Evolutionary scholars ¡°might be surprised to see sexist worldviews reinforced by the ¡®dual mating strategy¡¯ and ¡®sexy son¡¯ hypotheses, or by the latest research on the ovulatory cycle¡±, two University of Kent researchers?, published in?Evolutionary Human Sciences.

Based on ¡°extensive qualitative analysis of manosphere discourse¡± on forums, the paper by finds that the manosphere ¡°has its own version of evolutionary psychology, mingling cutting-edge scientific theories and hypotheses with personal narratives, sexual double standards and misogynistic beliefs¡±.

Evolutionary research has undergone a shift in its portrayal of female sexuality, from early accounts in Darwin¡¯s era insisting on ¡°coyness and monogamous tendencies¡±, to a position where there now ¡°exist many competing and overlapping hypotheses stressing the potential fitness benefits of female short-term and extra-pair mating¡±, write authors Louis Bachaud, a PhD student in Kent¡¯s School of Anthropology and Conservation, and Sarah Johns, reader in evolutionary anthropology at Kent.

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¡°Evolutionary psychology is ubiquitous in the manosphere,¡± and ¡°manosphere communities often draw on reputable research from peer-reviewed journals¡±, they found after analysing discourse on forums across a variety of strands, from men¡¯s rights activists to ¡°blackpilled¡± misogynist incels.

For example, they cite a Reddit post on the female ¡°dual mating¡± hypothesis: ¡°It¡¯s 2019, we all know the secret females have been hiding for over a million years now. DUAL MATING STRATEGY. Fuck the alphas [alpha males], suck resources and attention from all others.¡±?

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But ¡°the dual mating strategy?hypothesis?is not described as such in the manosphere¡±, the authors write. ¡°Here, it is just described as a scientific and ¡®observed¡¯ strategy that females engage in.¡±?

Evolutionary sex researchers can take steps to make misinterpretation ¡°more difficult¡± and ¡°to ensure their own language does not unnecessarily reflect that of the manosphere,¡± the authors argue.

¡°For example, the use of the verb ¡®cuckold¡¯ in reputable academic writing is unfortunate,¡± the authors write, arguing that ¡°the standards of scientific writing should dictate the abandonment of a term which has traditionally been gender-biased and morally loaded, and is now increasingly politically charged¡±.

Beyond ¡°neutral and careful scientific writing¡±, avoiding other loaded terms such as ¡°infidelity¡±, evolutionary psychologists ¡°might decide to engage directly with the issue, calling out or debunking biased interpretations of their research¡±, the authors recommend.

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They hope their paper ¡°will raise awareness, and spur debates and advances along those lines in the [evolutionary psychology] community¡±.

john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com