How Media Manufactures a Gender War
The notion that men and women are locked in an eternal battle is not a natural or inevitable reality—it is a constructed narrative, shaped and reinforced by modern media. This article will explore how gender conflict is not an organic development but a manufactured phenomenon designed to generate engagement, profit, and social division.
The Media is Selling Gender War, Not Love
As Noam Chomsky (1997) asserted, “People not only don’t know what’s happening to them, they don’t even know that they don’t know.” Media institutions thrive on division, and nothing fuels engagement like controversy. Every day, people are bombarded with clickbait articles, TikTok debates, and polarizing tweets that reinforce the idea that men and women are natural adversaries.
Consider the perpetual narratives: “Women only date rich guys!” versus “Men just want to control women!” These are not organic social trends but algorithmically promoted controversies because outrage generates more engagement. Reality TV shows like Love Is Blind and The Ultimatum amplify gender-based distrust by manufacturing drama between men and women, fueling an us-versus-them mentality. The rise of influencers like Andrew Tate, who promotes hyper-masculine dominance, and female coaches who teach women how to be submissive “high-value wives,” exemplifies how media profits from reinforcing gender divides.
Hyper-Masculinity & Hyper-Femininity are Marketed as the Only Options
The rise of hyper-masculinity and hyper-femininity is not a cultural accident but a highly profitable market strategy. The “alpha male” lifestyle, heavily promoted by influencers, is less about genuine confidence and more about selling expensive courses, books, and seminars to insecure men. Similarly, the “divine feminine” movement, which claims to liberate women, often operates by exploiting fears that modern independence is making them unlovable.
Take the surge in TikTok influencers promoting traditional gender roles. On one end, figures like Pearl Davis claim modern women are doomed unless they submit to men, while on the other end, female empowerment influencers sell courses on how to manipulate men into providing financial security. These extremes serve one purpose: to keep people insecure and constantly seeking external validation through commercialized solutions.
People Are Opting Out of Real Relationships
Media-driven narratives have created an atmosphere in which many people believe real relationships are impossible. Dating apps, social media, and Red Pill rhetoric amplify horror stories about dating, discouraging people from pursuing genuine connections. The result? A growing preference for digital relationships over real intimacy.
The rise of AI girlfriends, sex robots, and deepfake pornography is a clear indication that people are seeking escape rather than engagement. The popularity of Replika AI companions and OnlyFans models with parasocial relationships suggests that many individuals are choosing fantasy over reality. Meanwhile, viral threads on Reddit’s r/datingover30 and r/FemaleDatingStrategy push narratives that dating is a losing game, with men and women being advised to avoid relationships entirely.
The Biggest Mind-Blow
As Chomsky (1997) noted, “If you believe men and women are fundamentally at war with each other, congratulations—you’ve been successfully brainwashed.” The gender divide is manufactured, and many have fallen for it.
Rather than succumbing to media-driven division, individuals must critically examine the narratives they consume. Instead of internalizing hostility, recognizing the manipulation at play can lead to greater agency in personal relationships. In the end, the only way to resist this manufactured gender war is through awareness, dialogue, and the refusal to be a pawn in a profit-driven social experiment.
References
Chomsky, N. (1997). Media control: The spectacular achievements of propaganda. Seven Stories Press.
Manufacturing beliefs begins with YouTube influencers who lack formal education—often with nothing beyond a high school diploma—pushing narratives they barely understand. They regurgitate unverified sources without fact-checking, shaping public opinion through misinformation. For example:
