NOTE: This page is in desperate need of revision and expansion. In the meantime, I suggest you use Rationalwiki’s Manosphere Glossary.
For newcomers to this blog, here’s a handy guide to some of the strange acronyms and lingo you’ll encounter here and in the “manosphere” in general. (For a definition of that term, see below.) I will update this entry periodically as needed.
First, the acronyms you’ll see most often here:
MRA: Men’s Rights Activist
MRM: Men’s Rights Movement
MGTOW: Men Going Their Own Way MGHOW: Man Going His Own Way.
Ok, so what do those terms mean?
MRM: The Men’s Rights Movement: A loosely defined, but largely retrograde, collection of activists and internet talkers who fight for what they see as “men’s rights.” Unlike the original Men’s Movement, which was inspired by and heavily influenced by feminism, the self-described Men’s Rights Movement is largely a reactionary movement; with few exceptions, Men’s Rights Activists (or MRAs) are pretty rabidly antifeminist, and many are frankly and sometimes proudly misogynistic. Those who oppose the MRM are generally not against men’s rights per se; they are opposed to those who’ve turned those two words into a synonym for some pretty backwards notions.
MGTOW: Men Going Their Own Way: As the name suggests, MGTOW is a lot like lesbian separatism, but for straight dudes. MGTOW often talk vaguely about seeking “independence” from western and/or consumer culture, and a few MGTOW try to live that sort of zen existence. But most of those who embrace the term have a deep hostility towards and/or profound distrust of feminists and women in general. Many MGTOW refuse to date “western women” and some try to avoid women altogether. I think the Man Going His Own Way acronym MGHOW adds another layer of confusion to an already awkward acronym, so I use MGTOWer instead.
Some other terms and acronyms you’ll run across here:
Anglosphere: Countries in which English is the primary language, or, more narrowly, those countries that used to be British colonies. They are full of evil Western Women (see below).
Incel: Involuntarily Celibate. A term, and identity, adopted by some dateless guys (as well as some women, but it’s the men we’ll focus on here). While there is nothing shameful about being dateless, or a virgin, or having a really long dry spell sexually — most of us have been there at some point — the term “involuntarily celibate” seems to suggest that the world owes incels sex, and that women who turn down incel men for dates or sex are somehow oppressing them. For those (male, straight) incels who are genuinely socially awkward or phobic, this can be a self-defeating stance that can lead to bitterness towards women. And often does.
Mangina: Derogatory term used by MRAs, MGTOW, etc. to describe guys who disagree with them — e.g., me. You can figure out the various connotations of this term yourself.
The Manosphere: The loose collection of blogs, message boards, and other sites run by and/or read by MRAs, MGTOW, and assorted friendly Pick-up Artists. The primary source of material for this blog.
NAWALT: Not All Women Are Like That. Dudes in the manosphere make so many ridiculous and untrue generalizations about women that they’ve come up with their own little acronym to describe the most common reaction to their nonsense: “not all women are like that.” Remarkably, many seem to think that making a reference to NAWALT is actually some sort of clever rebuttal of their critics.
PUA: Pick-up Artist. PUAs are obsessed with mastering what they see as the ultimate set of techniques and attitudes — known as “Game” — that will enable them to quickly seduce almost any woman they want. There is a vast literature on “game” online, though PUA (insofar as it is not complete bullshit) is at its essence simply a male version of the age-old ploy of “playing hard to get.”
Western Women: Also known as WW. Evil harpies, at least according to many in the manosphere. Contrasted with “foreign women,” a term that (in the manosphere, at least) sometimes refers to all women outside the Anglosphere, but often refers to a subset of these women from poor and/or Eastern countries, mostly Asian, who are regarded as more pliable and thus more desirable to haters of “Ameriskanks” and other WW.
Misandry: the hatred of men
Misandrist: one who hates men
Feminist : defender of women’s rights
Feminist = Misandrist
Hey guys, Misandry is a real word and in case you aren’t up on current events, misandry is being practiced in Western Society right now. Feminism and misandry are two words that are joined at the hip. If you are a man who feels uncomfortable and can’t quite place the reason why, try checking out some men’s rights sites. Hopefully you will begin to understand that men are being systematically marginalized in our society which contributes to you living in an ever increasing hostile world. Hostile to men.
Because defending woman’s rights is hating men.
You don’t logic, do you?
And yeah, I’m pretty well cought up on current events, and what I see in the US? The majority if legislators on both state and federal level are men. Women are paid less than men of comparable experience doing the same job. Multiple states placing more and more restrictions on women’s reproductive freedom. Women are routinely blamed for getting raped. Women get rape and death threats from anonymous strangers on the Internet for such infractions as telling a man to shut up or making videos about videogame tropes or just being a woman.
So tell me again how the world is so hostile to men and not women.
[Let’s try this again. David, if you read this, please feel free to delete my previous comment.]
I’m a man and I feel uncomfortable. You know why? Patriarchy and the rigid gender roles that it enforces on people — or have you never studied sociology?
Do you know what else makes me uncomfortable? The incessant, brazen misogyny that passes for “thought” and “analysis” at your “men’s rights” sites.
You’re not even *trying* to conceal your hatred of women, are you? “[Defending] women’s rights” = “misandry”? Well, at least you’re an honest misogynist.
Get back in the tractor, or whatever equivalent to “get back in the kitchen” there is for men — oh wait, there IS none! But, of course, this is a misandrist world ’cause baby isn’t happy that his having a penis doesn’t grant him any more of a right to have everything given to him on a silver platter than having a vagina would.
Life is hard. Get a helmet.
PS: If you’d put one iota of thought into your post rather than just plugging the “manosphere” as a whole, you’d have structured your little… thing… better. While the opposite of “misandry” is “misogyny,” the correlate you were looking for up there is “feminism,” where it would’ve equaled “the defense of women’s rights.”
So, fail again.
Add another male to the MGTOW movement. You women and manginas suck.
What, you decided to take your toys and go home because of this thread? What a baby!
“Add another male to the MGTOW movement. You women and manginas suck.”
Awww, poor baby.
Another male…what?
A male poodle? A male tarsier? A male platypus?
Add another male to the MGTOW movement. You women and manginas suck.
You’re free! Go! You don’t have to stick around here!
What do commenters here mean when they talk of teal deer?
tl;dr. Too Long; Didn’t read.
TL = Teal
DR = Deer.
@taiki, Are you a MGTOW? If so, there’s really no need for you to hang around here and answer questions, although I’m sure Rea appreciates the answer.
Hell no!
Your first comment was a tad ambiguous, is why I’m asking. I guess it was a blockquote problem? Sorry if I didn’t recognize you; I”m terrible at names.
Cloudiah, yeah, I think he was just replying to what “foook yoooo” said.
Indeed I was. Block quote problem. I started posting here about 5 months ago when I took umbrage to David’s definition of “Incel” which I’ve now come around to. Been subscribed to this thread ever since.
This individual still looks like he’s 25. Amazing.
MGTOWs are extremely unintentionally funny. They profess that they are “going their own way”, and yet spend their entire time talking about women. Have you seen their forums? Really, really amusing. I’m a member of a couple of them and the poor thickos haven’t figured out yet that I’m a woman. Their attitude is – I can’t get a girlfriend therefore I’ll pretend I hate women and don’t want anything to do with them, whilst at the same time spending my entire life on forums telling other inadequates that I hate women and Go My Own Way! 🙂
[CONTENT NOTE FROM DF: Linked post contains graphic photos of male survivors of abuse.]
Hi, I have just written the first of three articles about this and other men’s issues on http://www.liberalamerica.com. Please visit and read the article. The next 2 are Men’s roles within society, what exactly are we supposed to be and how are we supposed to behave? Also a female privilege checklist. The first article is here: http://www.liberalamerica.org/2014/07/17/enough-its-time-to-stop-ignoring-domestic-violence-against-men/ I hope some of you will read it and the following articles. Yes I have been both physically and verbally abused during an 18 year marriage, so I do know the helplessness.. Regards – Shaun – [email protected]
Promote your blog somewhere else, champ. And if you’re so worried about male survivors of abuse, how about not plastering pictures of said abuse all over your “articles”?
The definition of the Anglosphere does not work. A lot (!) of countries like India used to be British colonies, but English is not the main language there.
Love this site, I feel like I can breathe easy here. I was worried about the youf of today, and battle sore talking to women against feminism. But no, all is well and the future looks bright again. I’ve been in some dark places in the manosphere, and can’t tell you how much I laughed at your glossary. All is now right with the world – Thanks xxx
“the term “involuntarily celibate” seems to suggest that the world owes incels sex, and that women who turn down incel men for dates or sex are somehow oppressing them.”
So, let us get this clear. If you are single, and you dare to be unhappy about it. (Regardless of why you think this is so.) This automaticly makes you an entitled asshole.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Of course we have the other end of the scale, those who are single and not unhappy about it are even bigger assholes. (Those dirty MGTOW scum, you know) So if you are single, and a man (Because of course this only applies to men.), you are a bad person either way.
But reading traditional feminist rethoric it is allso clear that each man with a girlfriend or a wife is oppressing her.
So if your a man, you cannot win either way. You are the devil no matter what.
And you wonder why someone might get the idea that feminists are men haters.
That’s nice, dear *pats Muzolf’s head*
No, you’re allowed to. I am this way myself. In so far as I can tell, I’m tolerated. The problem isn’t the term “incel.” Well, it is, since it’s kind of an inarticulate term and there’s a degree of implied entitlement. It’s also taken over by assholes who use the identity to empower their own assholeness.
Why not go with sexually frustrated, lonely and depressed? Ironically, while a mouthful, it is way more emotionally healthy than “incel.” Why not FLAD? Frustrated, Lonely And Depressed?
“Yeah, if I just completely misrepresent feminism, that proves that feminists hate men!”
MuzolfLogic.