Raising Man Kind (A Guide to Parenting Boys in the Age of the Manosphere)

From a developmental psychologist and one of the preeminent experts on the manosphere, a groundbreaking guide to the realities, dangers, and allure of this pervasive new corner of misogyny, and how to challenge its harmful messaging to keep young people safe both on and offline.

The Manosphere is everywhere—and, if you’re avoiding it, you’re not alone. For parents, guardians, and educators, it can be tempting to shield our eyes from these dangers and focus instead on positive messaging. But to effectively fight an evil, we must understand it.

In Raising Man Kind, developmental and social psychologist Dr. Harriet Over guides us through this once-obscure corner of the internet, drawing on her years of research in child development to help us parse through the muck, and start having conversations with the children and adolescents in our lives to help them avoid falling for these dangerous personalities and ideas.

In Part I, she breaks down the manosphere, offering adults an understanding of the language, platforms, main characters, and various messages young people encounter. She also explores the allure of the manosphere for young boys, examining the vulnerabilities it exploits and why the messaging appeals to developing minds.

In Part II, she helps parents combat this negative messaging, providing the tools they’ll need to have open conversations with the young people in their lives . . . without driving them deeper into the heart of the beast.

“Whether or not children and teenagers will see this content is no longer in question,” Dr. Over advises, “but how they respond to it is still to play for.” Raising Man Kind arms us with the practical wisdom, tools, and guidance to counteract this insidious force in real time.


An Essential Guide for Modern Parents and Educators: Understand the rapidly growing “manosphere” and its influence on young people, with expert insights from a leading developmental psychologist.

The Manosphere Explained: Learn the language, platforms, players, and messages shaping this online subculture to recognize its influence and respond effectively.

Why It Appeals to Boys: Discover the psychological factors that draw young males in, including the vulnerabilities and developmental needs this content exploits.

Practical Tools for Real Conversations: Gain actionable strategies to talk openly with teens and children—without pushing them away and further toward harmful online spaces.

Empowering Kids to Make Good Decisions On- and Offline: Arm yourself with research-backed guidance to challenge toxic messaging, build resilience, and help young people navigate digital culture safely.