Misogyny, Manhood and the Dehumanisation of Society

In the previous articles, I explored purpose and what it means to live as an ambassador for Christ.

But purpose is not only about what we achieve.

It is also about how we treat people.

We often argue about politics, power and culture.

But those arguments usually sit on top of a deeper problem.

Dehumanisation.

Most injustices begin the same way.

Someone stops being seen as fully human.

Once that happens, almost anything becomes possible.

Cruelty becomes easier.

Violence becomes easier.

Exploitation becomes easier.

Because when people are reduced to objects, stereotypes or categories, their dignity disappears.

And when dignity disappears, injustice follows.

One of the most persistent forms of this in human history is misogyny.

The reduction of women to something less than fully human.

Objects rather than people.

Trophies rather than equals.

Bodies rather than souls.

When Dignity Erodes

In December 2025, the UK government described violence against women and girls as a national emergency.

Police leaders have spoken about the scale of abuse affecting millions of women across the country.

Violence does not appear out of nowhere.

It grows in places where dignity has already eroded.

Where people are no longer seen as fully human.

Culture has begun to surface this problem too.

The Netflix series Adolescence sparked needed conversations about the influences shaping young boys and young men today.

It prompted difficult but necessary discussions between parents, teachers and young men themselves.

Because these conversations matter.

Misogyny does not suddenly appear in adulthood.

It often forms much earlier through attitudes, language, online influences and the models of masculinity young men absorb.

Louis Theroux’s recent Netflix documentary Inside the Manosphere adds another layer to that conversation.

The documentary immerses viewers in the world of “manfluencers” who package misogyny as self-improvement.

By allowing these figures to speak for themselves, the documentary exposes the contradictions at the heart of the movement: condemning certain behaviours while profiting from similar exploitation, all while feeding young men’s sense of disempowerment.

What emerges is a stark illustration of how dehumanisation works.

When women are reduced to stereotypes or transactions, injustice follows.

But in the end it harms men as well, isolating them from genuine connection, responsibility and purpose.

Which means the solution cannot be limited to policing behaviour.

It must also involve formation.

Helping boys grow into men who understand responsibility, respect and self-control.

Because the kind of men we raise will shape the kind of society we live in.

And that brings us to a deeper question.

What actually makes a man a man?

A Principle I Grew Up With

Growing up, my parents repeated a simple principle often.

My dad would say:

“Treat others how you’d like to be treated.”

It did not matter who the person was.

A cleaner.

A bin collector.

A teacher.

A CEO.

Status did not change how you treated someone.

Everyone deserved respect.

That principle echoes the teaching of Jesus.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”

Matthew 7:12

Treat people the way you would want to be treated.

At its core, this teaching recognises the dignity of another person.

Seeing them as fully human.

And when that disappears, something dangerous begins.

The Randomness of Birth

There is another thought worth sitting with.

None of us chose the circumstances we were born into.

We did not choose our country.

We did not choose our family.

We did not choose our skin colour.

We did not choose our gender.

For men, that means something important.

By sheer chance, we were born on the side of the equation far less likely to experience misogyny.

If the tables were turned, if we were the ones more likely to experience harassment, violence or dismissal simply because of our gender, how would we want to be treated?

The Golden Rule suddenly becomes very practical.

Treat others how you would want to be treated.

Because if our circumstances were reversed, we would want dignity too.

A Broken Definition of Masculinity

I believe misogyny comes from a broken definition of masculinity, one that was never rooted in respect.

For years, masculinity has often been defined in contrast to women.

“Don’t cry.”

“Don’t throw like a girl.”

“Real men get women.”

But those statements do not actually define masculinity.

They define masculinity against women.

And when masculinity is built on comparison, conquest or dominance, women inevitably become something to impress, control or possess.

That is not strength.

That is insecurity.

So perhaps the better question is this.

Can masculinity be defined without reference to women at all?

Because if masculinity needs women in order to validate itself, it is already unstable.

A Better Vision of Manhood

It is not a woman’s responsibility to make a man feel like a man.

A man must define his masculinity from within.

Masculinity should stand on its own.

Not rooted in dominance, but integrity.

Not rooted in conquest, but purpose.

Not rooted in control, but strength expressed through gentleness.

So what does that look like?

A man believes in himself.

He takes responsibility for his life and growth.

A man lives with integrity.

He does what is right even when it is difficult.

A man expresses emotion.

Strength is not emotional silence. It is emotional honesty.

A man stays calm in crisis.

His presence brings peace rather than panic.

A man leads by lifting others.

He helps people around him flourish.

A man is practically helpful.

He shows up. He carries. He fixes. He supports.

A man protects and provides.

He creates safety emotionally, physically, mentally and financially for those he loves.

At the core of all of this is something simple but powerful.

Respect.

Respect for others.

Respect for women.

Respect for himself.

Because when respect disappears, masculinity turns into domination.

Jesus Restores Dignity

If the central problem in society is dehumanisation, the life of Jesus reveals the opposite pattern.

Again and again, Jesus restored dignity where others removed it.

When a woman caught in adultery was dragged before a crowd ready to stone her, Jesus said:

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

John 8:7

One by one, the stones dropped.

The mob dissolved.

Jesus protected her and restored her dignity.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, he broke cultural norms by speaking with her publicly.

Not casually.

Theologically.

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”

John 4:13-14

Jesus treated her as someone capable of understanding truth.

Fully human.

When Mary sat at Jesus’ feet learning as a disciple, Jesus defended her place.

“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:42

He affirmed her dignity as a learner.

And after the resurrection, the first witnesses were women.

“He is not here; he has risen.”

Luke 24:6

In a society where women’s testimony carried little weight, Jesus entrusted them with announcing the most important event in history.

Again and again, Jesus restored dignity.

Strength That Restores Humanity

Jesus demonstrates a form of masculinity radically different from what the world often celebrates.

He was strong.

But his strength protected.

He had authority.

But his authority served.

He led.

But his leadership lifted others.

His strength restored dignity.

And that leads to a simple but powerful truth.

True masculinity restores humanity.

Restoring Our Humanity

Again, if the core problem in society is dehumanisation, the solution must be the restoration of dignity.

Seeing people as they truly are.

Created by God.

Valuable.

Human.

When men live with integrity and strength expressed through gentleness, something powerful happens.

Men flourish.

Women flourish.

Families flourish.

Communities flourish.

Human dignity is restored.

And the world begins to look a little more like the Kingdom of God.

The Line to Remember

If there is one idea to carry from this article, it is this.

Once someone stops being seen as fully human, almost any injustice becomes possible.

The answer begins when we choose to see people differently.

With dignity.

With respect.

As fully human.

When men are anchored to God, they do not dehumanise others.

They restore dignity.