An online movement has been blamed for the increase of men commenting and acting ridiculously towards women at tourist destination popular with Brits
A holiday hotspot loved by Brits has been transformed into a “no-go zone for ladies” as groups of men roam the streets acting like they’ve “never seen a woman in their life.”
Numerous women sounded the alarm that groups of men in the Spanish city of Marbella have made them feel uncomfortable and even intimidated. The rise of this behaviour has been attributed to online influencers from the “manosphere” movement who glamorise the holiday destination across social media.
The manosphere is loosely defined as a network of online forums, blogs, and social media groups promoting masculinity. The online space includes diverse subcultures from incels to pick-up artists. This can often result in these groups and influencers being echo chambers of misogyny and anti-social behaviour.
Brit influencer Jude Young, 24, recently spent time in Marbella and described how she had been bombarded with groups of men constantly commenting on her in the street.
The 24-year-old influencer told The Sun: “The men out there are honestly pests. It was like they had never seen a woman in their life.
“We were walking down the street – even the nice bit as well – and every group of men there was constantly making comments about us. Some literally had their tongues out – it was ridiculous.”
Influencer Natalia Nott has also pulled back the lid on the disappointing scenes some women face across the city. Natalia claimed that “most men in Marbella have always been friendly and polite towards me” but said that recently some had become “too forward” and “persistent”.
Natalia added: “I think there has always been a certain ‘traditional wife’ mentality among some men in Marbella.”
The trend has sparked fears amongst locals and Spanish officials that these influencers are dragging down the city’s reputation. Spanish activist Pamela Palenciano has said: “These men are having a negative influence in Marbella and across Spain.
“They seek out tourist areas with a mix of cultures where they can operate with impunity – Marbella has prior impunity for drug trafficking and prostitution – so they feel untouchable.
“There is concern among locals about these men, they are like a sect of wealthy individuals. Women should be avoiding these areas. But there must be responsibility from both the local and national governments.”
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