Maiden Mother Matriarch with Louise Perry BONUS: Sexual politics & education
Nov 25, 2025
Rob Henderson, a keen commentator on sexual politics and education, joins the discussion to unpack some contentious ideas. They explore whether men really care if a potential partner holds a degree and the impact of educational achievements on dating dynamics. The conversation dives into why attractive, educated women attract backlash from less competitive men and examines how different academic fields can spark varying levels of online outrage. Their insights challenge conventional thinking on education as a signal in the mating market.
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Viral Graduation Post Triggered Manosphere Backlash
- Louise Perry and Rob Henderson describe a viral Twitter incident where a young Oxford PhD's graduation photo drew manosphere backlash.
- They interpret the online abuse as men reacting to signals of female educational status and mating-market competition.
Education Signals Stir Mating-Market Resentment
- Perry and Henderson suggest men sometimes attack visible female educational attainment because it highlights mating-market inequality.
- Online spaces remove traditional boundaries and amplify resentment from men who feel they cannot compete.
Repeated Mockery Of Elite Female Graduates
- They compare similar incidents, noting other Oxford/Cambridge female graduates have faced mockery for their theses.
- One woman was mocked for a sociology-of-smell thesis while another worked on ant social behavior, showing varied targets provoke outrage.