Countering Male Supremacist Ideology and Violence: Challenges and Recommendations
This white paper, the second in a series, identifies key limitations to current approaches to understanding and challenging male supremacism that create barriers to effective communication and practice in research, news, practice, and policy. For each limitation, we recommend alternative approaches to shape future work. This white paper acknowledges and builds on foundational research, practice, and journalism, with significant insight drawn from groups with systematically marginalized voices. Researchers, journalists, and practitioners are the primary audience. This white paper speaks particularly to the interrelated fields of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE), radicalization and extremism studies, right-wing and far-right studies, and (counter)terrorism studies. These fields contribute to the interdisciplinary work challenging supremacism and authoritarianism. However, their efficacy has been limited by common approaches. This white paper identifies these issues and recommends alternatives to more effectively advance democracy and prevent violence.
1. Barrier: Failure to Recognize Misogyny as Ideology
Recommendation: Invest in Deepening Expertise Around Male Supremacist Ideology and Violence
2. Barrier: Narrow Focus on Fringe Groups and Beliefs
Recommendation: Use Spectrum Thinking for Deep Cultural and Structural Change
3. Barrier: Neglecting the History, Diversity, and Intersections of Male Supremacism
Recommendation: Learn From Historically-Informed, Interdisciplinary Research on Male Supremacism
4. Barrier: Gender Essentialism in Research and Programming
Recommendation: Challenge Gender Binaries with Human-Centered Approaches
5. Barrier: Misinformation and Centering of Cisgender Men’s Interests
Recommendation: Advance Accurate, Justice-Based Approaches to Work with Boys and Men
Download the full white paper here. To read part 1, Foundations of Male Supremacism, download here.
