The Red Pill and Misogyny by Donna Zuckerberg Publisher: Shanghai People's Publishing House

Introduction · · · · · ·
◆ Editor's Recommendation

Undercover reveals the trend of misogyny on American social media

Correcting the misuse of classical literature by straight white men

◆ Introduction

In the movie "The Matrix", Morpheus gave Neo two choices: "Take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in bed and believe whatever you want to believe. Take the red pill - you stay in this paradise, and I will tell you how deep the rabbit hole is. Remember: I only provide the truth."

On Reddit, the fifth-largest website in the United States, the most influential male forum is called “The Red Pill.” Its creation marks a new stage in online misogyny—not only does it mock and demean women, but it also believes that in this society, men—especially straight white men—are oppressed by women.

They use classical images and classical works to promote white racism, considering themselves defenders of intellectual authority and inheritors of Western culture and civilization.

Social media has brought unprecedented democratization of information, but it has also created opportunities for men who hold anti-feminist views. Social media has taken misogyny to new levels of violence and malice.

◆ Professional reviews

In this chilling book about the mockery, misogyny, racism, and bad history that the alt-right has spread online, relying on the authority of Greek and Latin classics, Zuckerberg makes a compelling argument in this important and timely volume: we need a new, more critical, and less comfortable relationship between the ancient and modern worlds.

—Emily Wilson, renowned classical scholar and translator of The Odyssey

Zuckerberg describes the Red Pill online community as a corner of the internet dominated by men’s rights activists, the alt-right, pickup artists, and a sex-averse community known as “man’s way.” Almost all of these subgroups use classical literature for their own purposes.

--The Atlantic Times

Explores how ancient Greek and Roman ideas are being used and abused by today's anti-feminist thinkers.

——Time Magazine