Hello everyone - I hope you are all well!

I for a few years have occasionally browsed reddit, mainly news and meme subreddits. However, when I first became aware of reddit, I to my great misfortune, came across several subreddits with an anti-women spin. I'm fairly certain you can guess which subreddits (incel, red pill, hapas, probably others also exist).

Although I tried not to dwell on their content, I left that early exposure feeling down and sick to my stomach. I never returned however the content has subtly lingered in my psyche.

In fact, some of my extended family hails from regions of the world where it is rather routine to consider women lesser beings than their male counterparts. That should've perhaps made it easier to handle that content. However I am greatly confused as to why it persists in the first world. Are these young men or older men? Why is so easy to disrespect and dehumanize women even in advanced societies? I can't seem to shake that a significant proportion of men around me may view me negatively, especially if they find me unattractive. I think it is beginning to make me fearful of men, actually. (I'm in the U.S. if it is useful.)

I don't have anyone in my personal life who I can feel comfortable discussing this type of subject matter and I don't have a strong fatherly presence I can turn to either. Any insight I glean from your comments will be very helpful for me!