Women are subordinate to men. Women are to blame for men’s suffering. Men have a right to sex. There is a biologically determined hierarchy of genders and peoples. Survival is a fight where everyone must fend for themselves. Real masculinity is under attack. Gender equality is a threat. Women exist to reproduce and belong in the kitchen.

Women are subordinate to men. Women are to blame for men’s suffering. Men have a right to sex. There is a biologically determined hierarchy of genders and peoples. Survival is a fight where everyone must fend for themselves. Real masculinity is under attack. Gender equality is a threat. Women exist to reproduce and belong in the kitchen.

These are, more or less, the core tenets of the “manosphere.” These beliefs, some as old as humanity itself, resonate with many—especially young men. But they also resonate with many Silicon Valley tech bros and with the ultra-conservative, authoritarian alt-right movement. And especially, they resonate with some of the richest and most powerful people in the world: Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta Platforms and one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, wants to see more masculinity in business. Donald Trump, currently serving his second term as President of the United States and also extremely wealthy, sees women as sexual objects and has been convicted of sexual abuse. Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, envisions a society led by alpha males and uses women to produce his now 14 children. J.D. Vance, current Vice President of the United States and staunchly conservative, believes that for the sake of the children and the sanctity of marriage, divorce should not be an option—even in cases of domestic violence.

These are men who have more power to shape the world than most of us can fathom. They have more money than can be conceptually grasped, and resources, power, and influence that exceed all limits. And yet, these men seem deeply miserable in their masculinity. They embody a version of masculinity defined by rawness, strength, and relentless toughness. Emotions are viewed as weakness—except, perhaps, for hatred of outsiders and a supposedly righteous rage against anything “unmanly.” They are powerful, but not secure in their masculinity. They are fragile powerful men—FPMs.

“Masculinity is in crisis,” they claim — but the real crisis may be emotional isolation disguised as ideology.

A closer look at the discourse around supposed biological gender roles and hierarchies reveals a recurring, central theme: the figure of the father. Questions around fatherhood appear again and again in the posts, forums, and podcasts of the manosphere—and in the public statements and behavior of the FPMs—in two main forms. First, there is the men’s reflection on their own roles as fathers. Elon Musk now has 14 confirmed children and presents himself either as a devoted father (bringing his five-year-old son “Little X” to interviews and White House events), or as disappointed by his children (as in the case of his trans daughter, whom he publicly declared “dead” via social media). In both cases, the children—and his relationship to them—are put on display. Several of the mothers of his children have made serious accusations about Musk’s treatment of them and their children. Mark Zuckerberg likewise often portrays himself as a caring father, posting images and videos of his daughters on social media.

On the other hand, there is the archetype of the powerful, just, yet punishing father: Trump is celebrated by his followers in the manosphere as a “daddy” ready to administer corporal punishment. In this twisted analogy, the United States is a “bad girl” who deserves to be punished. This deeply disturbing image finds enthusiastic reception in the manosphere and among Trump supporters: finally, the thinking goes, a “real” man who asserts control! This father’s job is to lead with a firm hand, to punish if necessary—and if violence results, then, at least according to J.D. Vance, that’s still compatible with the welfare of the child and the sanctity of marriage. This view should not be dismissed as some fanatical fringe opinion—it’s central to the authoritarian right and large swaths of the manosphere. It is, in fact, perfectly compatible with the religious narrative of the authoritarian right, where the omnipotent heavenly father forgives ambivalently, while threatening eternal damnation for transgressions.

While one might view the engagement with fatherhood roles somewhat charitably—after all, these FPMs do present themselves as fathers, unlike generations of powerful men before them—the complex around the punishing father is disturbing at best. The readiness for violence contained in the image of the belt-wielding “daddy” is all the more unsettling when considered in light of the FPMs’ own childhood experiences of violence. Elon Musk’s childhood is said to have been marked by violence from his father. J.D. Vance describes childhood abuse inflicted by his mother and her partners. Donald Trump’s father was reportedly psychologically abusive and has been described by family members as a sociopath.

While one might view the engagement with fatherhood roles somewhat charitably—after all, these FPMs do present themselves as fathers, unlike generations of powerful men before them—the complex around the punishing father is disturbing at best. The readiness for violence contained in the image of the belt-wielding “daddy” is all the more unsettling when considered in light of the FPMs’ own childhood experiences of violence. Elon Musk’s childhood is said to have been marked by violence from his father. J.D. Vance describes childhood abuse inflicted by his mother and her partners. Donald Trump’s father was reportedly psychologically abusive and has been described by family members as a sociopath.

We cannot—and will not—psychologize these FPMs any further. The damaging links between childhood abuse and political cruelty are well-documented in the academic literature. What’s new about the current wave of daddy issues is the global digital network that connects the FPMs—through podcasts, forums, and memes—with members of the manosphere. Suddenly, masculinity and daddy issues are not only political topics, but personal ones too. Just as young Musk may once have experienced, today hundreds of thousands—millions—of young men are going through the same thing. Only now, with the sheer volume of digital content and the unlimited time spent online, it’s far more immediate.

Maybe what these men really need is just a proper hug. Or a father who finally tells them he’s proud of them—even when they fail. Instead, they build rockets, platforms, and parallel societies to escape their personal histories—or maybe just to finally win Daddy’s approval. Anything but therapy.

Daddy was strict. Now the world has to pay the price.