2026 Male Supremacism Studies Conference (MSSC): December 8-12

Theme: Misogyny and Authoritarianism in Global Perspective

The Institute for Research on Male Supremacism is inviting proposals for our next virtual Male Supremacism Studies Conference, with an emphasis on deepening our transnational reach with the theme, Misogyny and Authoritarianism in Global Perspective. We invite papers from any region that address misogyny, transmisogyny, misogynoir, and/or authoritarianism. Researchers may propose working papers or full panels, and we also invite presentations from practitioners. Papers presented at this conference will have the opportunity to be considered for a collection. Proposals are due by filling out this form no later than July 25, 2026.

Given the outpouring of interest for our 2025 three-day conference, this conference will extend to 5 days, taking place online December 8-12, 2026. IRMS operates a unique conference schedule intended to allow participation from any global region. Rather than holding the conference in a host time zone, panels are scheduled around the clock, with IRMS striving to schedule session times that are convenient to each presenter’s region, while simultaneously aiming to bring together researchers from varied geographies into space together. In addition, panel sessions are replayed at various times for a period of up to two weeks after the conference, so that attendees can view missed sessions at a time convenient to their location.

Not submitting a proposal but interested in attending the conference? Or would your organization or department like to cosponsor? Fill out this interest form to be notified when registration and cosponsorship forms go live.

Researching Male Supremacism

IRMS invites papers on male supremacism and its intersections with other forms of supremacism and authoritarianism. We offer the following examples of topics, a far from exhaustive list:

• Critical assessments of trends in research on male supremacism in fields such as counterterrorism, P/CVE, etc.

• Male supremacism in different religious, secular, and cultural contexts (i.e. Christian nationalism, Hindu nationalism, etc.)

• Intimate partner violence, sexual violence, femicide, and other forms of gender-based violence or “everyday terrorism” as aspects of male supremacism

• Identifying and comparing male supremacist belief systems

• Targeting of trans and nonbinary people, drag performances, queer practices, and other methods of upholding biological essentialism

• Opposition to policies that support gender justice, such as comprehensive sexuality education, protections for violence against women, workplace equity laws, etc.

• Theory-building on male supremacism, bringing in insights from intersectionality studies, queer studies, etc.

• Research into methods for long-term cultural and structural change in male supremacism, through education, entertainment, etc.

• Work on dehumanization, entitlement, dangerous speech, and other common elements of supremacist belief systems

Risk Transparency

The IRMS conference is open for any individual to register. While we prohibit recordings of sessions outside of those made by IRMS for replays, as this is a space for researchers to share in-progress work, challenging male supremacism and authoritarianism draws bad faith actors. Disruptive actors will be removed from the conference, however, there are technological limitations to the ability to prevent surreptitious recordings. We decided to maintain this conference as a publicly accessible space as vital to widespread dissemination and discussion of the ideas raised in this regular global event. Closed-door events offer a more secure space for discussion, yet have the downside of often resulting in the same small group of people being invited. We are transparent about the risks and this trade-off so that researchers can make an informed decision about whether this is a conference space that works for them.

Post-Conference Publication Opportunity

Conference presenters will be eligible to be considered for an upcoming collection, new edited book on global male supremacism. This book will follow-up on our prior Routledge collection, Male Supremacism in the United States, by bringing a transnational view of this significant form of ideology, mobilization, culture, and policy. IRMS is founded on the benefits of interdisciplinary, transnational collaboration to share analysis of male supremacist ideologies, movements, and culture and welcome submissions from any discipline, field, and region.

Intentions for the significance of the book project include:

1. Multidimensional Understanding of Male Supremacism: By examining male supremacist ideologies through multiple lenses—ranging from the humanities to social sciences—the project aims to uncover the fundamental principles of patriarchy, and its varied expressions in different cultures. This allows for a deeper, more holistic understanding of how patriarchy operates globally.

2. Transnational Collaboration: The project brings together experts studying various countries, emphasizing that male supremacist ideologies are not confined to a single geographic location but are global in nature. This cross-border collaboration fosters a shared analysis of how these ideologies affect different societies and encourages global solutions.

3. Interdisciplinary Perspectives: Drawing from disciplines such as language studies, social movements, online culture, and technology, the project integrates diverse fields of expertise. This broad scope allows for innovative research approaches and methodologies, enabling a richer understanding of how male supremacism functions.

4. Practical Application: By analyzing male supremacism across different cultural contexts and disciplines, the project has the potential to inform policy, education, and activism. It provides the groundwork for creating more effective alternative interventions and strategies to combat gender-based violence, discrimination, and inequality on a global scale.

5. Advancing Male Supremacism Studies: The project significantly contributes to the emerging field of male supremacism studies, filling a gap in academic research that has neglected the significance of misogynist ideology. It paves the way for future scholarship that challenges patriarchal systems by integrating interdisciplinary and cross-national insights.