Navigating the Darker Elements of the Manosphere, Combatting Hostility Toward Females, and Raising Good Dudes (VIRTUAL)

Navigating the Darker Elements of the Manosphere, Combatting Hostility Toward Females, and Raising Good Dudes

Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST

Total Training Time: 6 hours (6 CEs)

Presenter: Dr. Alex Rodrigues

Bio: Dr. Alex Rodrigues is a practicing psychologist who completes high-stakes evaluations in the legal and employment domains.  He has testified in various jurisdictions in matters regarding sexual violence, competency to proceed, criminal insanity, and parental fitness. More recently, Dr. Rodrigues has returned to therapeutic work with clients, specifically young men struggling to launch their lives.   Outside of direct clinical work, Dr. Rodrigues can often be found writing on his website, Digital Birds & Bees, as well as on Substack.  

Description: With the explosion of online content creators, society has seen an increase in male influencers purportedly focusing on issues affecting male teenagers and adults.  This realm of online personalities is colloquially referred to as the manosphere.  On initial glance, such a focus seems beneficial given that many argue men are facing a crisis in the U.S. and abroad. However, some of these influencers traffic in material that perpetuates harmful stereotypes about men and women, sometimes leading to devastating consequences like domestic violence and misogynistic terrorism.  

Attendees will learn of select media personalities trading in harmful male content. This topic is particularly important for professionals working with those with sexual offense histories given the research identifying hostility toward women as a dynamic reoffense risk factor and important treatment target.  Attendees will learn about the manosphere’s history and what may be driving young men to consume such content now.  Lastly, participants will be introduced to material that frames masculinity in a healthy way, fostering principles such as accountability, emotional expression, and healthy attitudes toward the sexes. This approach mirrors the increasing strength-based treatment model that considers the whole person, as oppose to simply focusing on deviant or criminal behavior.  Participants will leave the presentation with practical steps they can immediately implement in their practice. 

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to identify one positive and negative source of online male content.

• Participants will recognize two concerning entities or groups within the broader manosphere. 

• Attendees will identify one component that contributes to healthy masculinity.