The Manosphere & weaponized autism: Rethinking antivolence interventions

The Media Practices Research Cluster in the School of Arts, Media and Communication warmly invites you to attend a research presentation by visiting scholar Dr. Yimin Chen, Lecturer in Interaction, Technology & Information in the School of Computing Technologies at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia:

How the Manosphere weaponized autism: The importance of neuro-affirming antiviolence interventions

There has been growing concern that the “Manosphere,” a loose network of male-centric influencers and online communities, is amplifying and inflaming misogyny, technology facilitated sexual violence, and right-wing extremism around the world. One persistent meme that often crops up in some of these online hate spaces is the concept of “weaponized autism,” defined in Urban Dictionary as: "the focused application of nerdiness, computer tech savvy and social awkwardness in the cyber pursuit of justice, payback or even serving the public interest.” Within this framing, “autism” is both glorified and derogatory: as an expression of internalised self-hatred, but also as justification for a victimhood narrative that spurs expressions and acts of hate. An especially unsettling finding from recent studies is that neurodiverse young men, in particular, seem drawn to antisocial online communities because they feel more accepted there than in mainstream society.

While there has been increasing support for initiatives to address online misogyny and other forms of hate, few address this intersection of neurodivergence and extremism. This talk will unpack some of the subcultural history behind “weaponized autism” and explore how a better understanding of neurodivergent identities could influence the design of more inclusive and accessible antiviolence initiatives.

Speaker Biography:

Dr Yimin Chen is a lecturer in Interaction, Technology & Information in the School of Computing Technologies at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. His research focuses on the prevention and mitigation of online gender-based violence through technological and social interventions. His other interests include information behaviour, human-computer interaction, mis/disinformation, online trolling, and internet culture and communication more broadly.