From misogyny to mobilization: Hostile sexism and conflictual online discussions indirectly predict men's rights activism via heightened identification as a men's rights supporter

Abstract Although sexism may serve as a gateway into the men's rights movement, few studies have examined group processes in online environments that fuel this reactionary movement. We address this gap by examining whether interacting with like‐minded others fosters an emergent social identity as a “men's rights supporter” among sexist men; and whether identification predicts willingness to engage in reactionary actions undermining gender equality. Across two studies ( N s = 443, 755), men completed a hostile sexism measure and read about the perceived impacts of feminism on men. Participants then either discussed whether feminism negatively impacts men in an online chatroom (group deliberation) or reflected individually (individual deliberation). Hostile sexism predicted identification as a men's rights supporter, and this link was stronger in the group deliberation condition. In turn, identification predicted greater reactionary action intentions. Unexpectedly, these effects emerged only among men who indicated that their group was unsure about the impact of feminism after the discussion. A post‐hoc content analysis of the pooled chat logs revealed that these men engaged in discussions marked by conflict and disagreement, suggesting that identification with the movement emerged through dissent rather than consensus. These findings highlight complex social dynamics underpinning engagement with the men's rights movement.