The Cult of “Community” — Why Women Are Targeted by Cults, MLMs, and Pyramid Schemes (Part 1)

Written By RaiseHER Community

Welcome to the dark, twisted world of cults, where manipulation is sold as salvation, and women, in particular, pay the price. In this week’s episode of The Scaries, we dove deep into why women have historically been drawn into cults, MLMs, and pyramid schemes—only to find themselves trapped in cycles of coercion, control, and, in some cases, outright abuse. Spoiler alert: this isn’t just a thing of the past.

Cults aren’t just about drinking the Kool-Aid (looking at you, Jonestown). They thrive on coercion disguised as community, using a handy little framework called "BITE":

Behaviour control

Information control

Thought control

Emotional control

And surprise, surprise—these tactics still exist today, just in slicker, more social-media-friendly packaging.

Here’s the real kicker: cults don’t target just anyone. They seek out people in transition—new moms, recent grads, divorcees, people looking for meaning. They offer a sense of belonging, promise empowerment, and lure women in with the age-old bait of "sisterhood." Sound familiar? Because that’s exactly how modern MLMs, influencer-led hustle cultures, and even some online religious movements operate.

Women and Cults: A Historical Love Story (That No One Wanted)

From the 60s to the 90s, cults were thriving, and women were at the center of it all. The Manson Family, The Peoples Temple, Heaven’s Gate—these groups didn’t just exploit women; they built their foundations on their backs.

  • The Manson Family: Charles Manson preyed on vulnerable women, offering them love and acceptance before manipulating them into committing unthinkable crimes. It’s classic coercive persuasion: love-bombing, then breaking them down until they’d do anything for him.

  • Jonestown: Jim Jones promised equality and utopia, but what he delivered was psychological abuse and mass tragedy. Over 900 people died in Jonestown, and more than half were women.

  • The Children of God: This cult, rebranded as The Family International, used "Flirty Fishing"—a euphemism for sexual exploitation—to recruit members. Women were told their bodies were tools for God’s work. Disgusted? Same.

  • Branch Davidians & Heaven’s Gate: From David Koresh’s obsession with "spiritual wives" (a gross way of saying child brides) to Heaven’s Gate’s mass suicide pact, these cults used salvation as the ultimate manipulation tactic.

Why Women?

The short answer? Women were (and still are) seeking meaning, connection, and purpose. The long answer? Decades of societal shifts, from second-wave feminism to economic instability, created the perfect storm of uncertainty. Cults offered answers when women felt like they had none.

And they still do.

Cults in the Digital Age: The Rise of "Trad Wives" and Online Influencer Cults

Think cults are a relic of the past? Think again. Today’s cults aren’t hiding in the woods; they’re in your algorithm.

The "Trad Wife" movement, for example, romanticizes extreme submission, discouraging autonomy under the guise of "returning to traditional values." And social media influencers? Some of them are leading digital cults, offering self-improvement while subtly isolating followers from outside perspectives.

And let’s not even get started on MLMs. That’s a whole separate episode (don’t worry, it’s coming).

What Can We Do?

The best defense is awareness. Cult tactics haven’t changed—only the platforms have. Stay skeptical, trust your instincts, and remember: real empowerment never comes at the cost of your autonomy.

Women have been used, manipulated, and exploited for far too long in the name of community. The best way to fight back? Educate yourself, support other women, and refuse to buy into the scam—whether it's a cult leader in the 70s or a TikTok guru selling "boss babe" dreams today.

RaiseHER Community
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