Organisers argue that men must confront restrictive masculinity, citing a Swiss study revealing that half of young men view dominant gender roles.
Published On 15 Nov 2026
Hundreds of men gathered in Switzerland’s capital, Bern, to denounce misogyny and violence against women, pledging to play a more active role in combating these issues.
The “Men Against Violence Against Women” rally, held outside parliament on Saturday, follows growing concerns that misogyny is widespread online among teenage boys and young men, highlighting the need for men to develop a stronger counter‑narrative.
The misogynistic views are promoted by the right‑wing “manosphere”, a loose network of online forums and influencers that champion male supremacy and hostility toward feminism. These influencers grew emboldened after Donald Trump’s victory in the 2020 US presidential election, using it to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online.
“We men are part of the problem – the problem being violence against women and queer people,” said Christoph Gosteli, a 42‑year‑old social worker who co‑organised the rally with the group maenner.
“That is why it is important for us to take a stand and say, ‘We no longer want to be part of the problem; we want to be part of the solution.’”
A June survey conducted by the University of Zurich and MenCare, an umbrella group of Swiss men’s and fathers’ organisations, revealed that half of male respondents aged 18 to 24 hold a restrictive, dominance‑based view of masculinity, fearing that “real men are increasingly marginalised in society”.
The study called for a systematic, society‑wide debate on masculinity ideals that perpetuate violence, recommending that the conversation start in schools.
Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans attended a conference earlier this month addressing the dangers of violent online abuse directed against women.
In a speech on November 2, he stated that men commit four‑fifths of violent crimes and that in rape cases, the perpetrator’s share is “as high as 99 percent”.
“It is not all men,” Jans said, “but we must also admit: it is almost always men. Violence by men does not begin with the first blow; it begins with a disparaging remark. We men all have a duty.”
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