Understanding the Manosphere

What will it Cover?

A one-day symposium bringing together leaders, practitioners, and subject matter experts to explore how digital ecosystems are shaping workplace culture, inclusion, wellbeing, and safety across engineering, technology, space, defence, security, and associated sectors. 

Workplace culture is increasingly influenced by online narratives that normalise hierarchy, dominance, and rigid interpretations of “meritocracy”. These narratives can subtly shape communication styles, leadership behaviours, and team dynamics once they enter the workplace. 

In organisational settings, this may present as: 

• Dismissal of inclusion discussions framed as “logic” or “overreach” 
• Resistance to diversity and inclusion initiatives 
• Defensiveness or overconfidence impacting collaboration 
• Uneven participation where some voices are consistently minimised 

However, these cultural patterns have wider implications for psychological safety and wellbeing. Left unaddressed, they can contribute to rising hostility in teams, reduced trust, and environments where individuals feel less able to speak up or seek support when needed. 

At the same time, the impact is shared across the workforce: 

• Women may experience reduced visibility, credibility challenges, and barriers to progression, alongside diminished psychological safety 
• Men may experience pressure to suppress emotion or vulnerability, contributing to burnout, disengagement, and increasing mental health risk 
• Organisations face reduced trust, weakened collaboration, and risks to retention, performance, and reputation