Collapse Feminism
Alice Cappelle
Repeater Books, £10.99

ALICE CAPPELLE is a French feminist known for her critical essays on YouTube such as, “Alternative Self Help is Brainwashing You” and “Capitalism and Ego Formation,” with views topping one million.

In this, her debut book, she exposes the growing prevalence of support for right-wing and anti-feminist ideas in our present society, and in particular the part that the internet plays in the current battle taking place regarding feminism’s future. 

She covers everything from the shocking, reactionary politics of the “manosphere” to sexual liberation, traditional femininity, toxic masculinity, the girl boss, self help… thus demonstrating why it is utterly essential that we stand up and make alternative views heard, to construct a future that will liberate us all.

The “manosphere” is a wide variety of internet-based men’s groups who frequently assert the old misconception that men are naturally dominant, promoting nonsensical narratives about women and objectionable arguments against feminism. These screeds have included claims that women have no role in society outside reproduction, that women should be denied the right to vote, and that the Western world started to fall apart when we stopped burning witches. 

These may seem like ridiculous, fanatical views, but the backlash against women’s rights and the ability to choose is all part of a right-wing fundamentalism which is on the rise. The Supreme Court in the United States has over-ruled the constitutional right to an abortion, eliminating choice regardless of a woman’s circumstances. Amnesty International has warned of a dramatic deterioration of women’s rights worldwide. Extremist groups are purchasing internet space to express misogynistic views and hate speech. 

They fork out money to target young audiences, and men in particular, using social media algorithms that decide what content appears on individual feeds, in what order, and for how long. These are designed to keep viewers engaged on the platform for as long as possible, manipulating emotions, and often making viewers angry, anxious and overexcited. Such use of algorithms ensures that hatred, misogyny, sexism, racism and extremist politics find online channels. 

Highly abusive posting, where misogyny is allowed to flourish in the most hideous forms, is not a crime. Yet we have a Prime Minister who brands many people who dare to demonstrate peacefully on the street as “extremists” while male supremacist views have surged on TikTok and podcasting platforms. 

Cappelle demonstrates how, inevitably, this is all linked to patriarchy, a concept that remains shockingly central to the way many people think and act, that exists in our modern society in a quest to foster traditional gender roles. Unsurprisingly, most men, when asked their views on feminism, agree with gender equality but label the movement extremist. 

Very little media space is made for feminist activities and thinkers to explain what the movement represents. Feminism is not an authoritative source with a programme, but an invitation to rethink the basic tenets on which we make society, conceptualising what society would be like if we rejected the culture of domination that patriarchy nurtures. 

For example, to cease the use of white males as the benchmark for quality and value against which girls and women are forced to compare and rate themselves, and to dismantle the hierarchy of sexual and gender power that has prevailed for so long and disadvantaged many men as well as women. 

This book is a perfect introduction to feminism, especially in demonstrating its current relevance. Opinions are backed up with both research and living examples. Feminism is not an outdated concept: it has campaigned for education, for the vote, safe streets, social welfare and women’s refuges. It has never killed opponents, picked up guns or practised genocide. Feminism believes in equality and diversity for all human beings regardless of gender or race. 

Chapters in this book examine Re-thinking the Workplace, Re-thinking the Family, Re-thinking the Internet, Re-thinking New Forms of Intimacy, how we should diversify the types of relationships we value and the power of “agape” — communal love which can be expressed through friendships.

Online communication influences the adoption of certain lifestyles, ideologies and gender expressions. Cappelle argues convincingly that the internet should be deprivatised, and then aim to become a springboard for many forms of debate, critical discussion, and a common good accessible to all and no longer generated by the Big Tech platforms that dictate what ends up on our social media. 

She draws inspiration from people, both men and women, at the margins who refuse to settle for fatalism precisely because their existence depends on believing that things can get better. It is absolutely vital that we reject political ideology that is intent on harming people and collectively work to create a fairer future based on equality for everyone.

She concludes her book with the words: “Let’s lead the fight and be bold, focus our energy on younger generations, infuse hope and justice into their minds.” 

No-one is coming to save us. This book proves yet again we must all work together to save ourselves.