Tackling vile manosphere requires inspirational politicians, not reminders of human failings
The decline of church attendance means we need to find other ways of providing moral guidance to the nation
The rise of the vile ‘manosphere’ – in which misogyny is celebrated, women are reduced to objects, conspiracy theories abound, and violence is somehow regarded as acceptable – is often blamed on social media.
However, similarly toxic attitudes could be found in the pages of ‘lads mags’ in the 1990s and have always been around. The internet has enabled such views to be promoted to a greater degree than before and for exponents of the manosphere to create their own sickening sense of community and belonging.
But another sometimes-overlooked factor in the manosphere’s concerning popularity is the decline in ordinary discussions about what it means to be a good person.
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No return of the ‘cutty stool’
In the past, a majority of the population received moral guidance from the pulpit every week. The decline of church attendance means many people no longer experience a regular reminder about their duties towards their fellow human beings.
No one is arguing for a return of the “stool of repentance”, or “cutty stool”, once used to shame sinners by the Presbyterian church. But, whatever your stance on religion, we do need to look for new ways to promote ethical behaviour in this secular age.
The manosphere has created a particular issue for our schools, an issue which Huw Jones, rector of Scotland’s last remaining all-boys school, Merchiston Castle, discusses in an article we publish today.
However, it would be wrong to see it as a matter entirely for teachers to resolve. This is a ‘whole society’ problem which requires a response on a similar scale.
‘The arc of the moral universe’
In a recent column for The Scotsman, Jimmy Paul, head of the renowned Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, wrote: “None of us can fix this alone – but together, as we have seen with our progress on violence in the last 20 years, we can build a Scotland where women and girls are safe and valued, and where boys can become the best of themselves.”
Societal values and norms are in constant flux. Some modern attitudes would horrify our ancestors, some of theirs certainly do today.
It is said that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”. However, this is not a given, it will only happen if good people make it.
And that is one reason why Scotland needs political leaders who adhere to the highest standards. Now more than ever, we need inspirational role models, not reminders of human failings.