As I am reading, a myriad of emotions rushes through my body: disgust, anger, sadness, even pity. How can someone feel so much hate towards another is beyond me. In Laura Bates’ book ‘Why Men Hate Women’, my eyes have been opened to a whole new world I didn’t know existed - the world of ‘incels’.
Most have heard of the word ‘incel’ before. ‘Incel’, meaning involuntarily celibate, is an online subculture that mostly consists of young white cis straight men who possess views of extreme misogyny, racism, and homophobia. The reason for this hatred is a perceived lack of ability to attract an intimate mate. Some, but not all members of this group remain anonymous, making it impossible to estimate an accurate number and the size of the subculture itself.
It can appear the movement is insignificant and consists of a small number of troubled individuals. However, further research and evidence show the size and impact have already caused more damage than we could have imagined. The subculture has not only groomed young impressionable boys who feel frustrated but also aided terrorism attacks.
The movement started completely differently. In the 1990s, a young Canadian woman named Alana created a website called Alana’s Involuntary Celibacy Project. Alana thought she must have not been the only one struggling with loneliness and sought out to find like-minded people on the internet. The community grew to be small and supportive: an open space where people could share their fears and struggles.
‘What started out as a small support group has mutated into a nightmarish world inhabited – or so a significant proportion of its content would suggest – by men who hate women.’ (L. Bates, 2020)
Evidently, over the past five to ten years the community has seen some significant growth. The movement is more complex than meets the eye: a lot of men do not actively seek out platforms to express their deep misogyny. Some men just want to feel like they belong, to feel seen and understood in their life problems and loneliness. After all, we live in a world where male suicide is three times higher. So, for someone who is already vulnerable, having someone to talk to, even if it is only online, joining ‘incels’ may seem like the only way of receiving support.
On the other hand, a more extreme and sinister group of people exists, who possess extreme views, such as advocating for legalising rape, dehumanising women, lashing out at immigrants for stealing their jobs or expressing extreme homophobic and racist views. For example, the topic of killing LGBTQ+ community members by throwing them off buildings has emerged in some alt-right forums, and the thread named ‘Should Women be Considered Human’ (with the conclusion they should not) has many active participants. Therefore, the clear heteronormative views of the ‘incel’ community should be included in the complex and urgent issue it has now become.
Why urgent? Because multiple acts of mass violence have been committed in the name of the ‘incel’ movement, or by individuals who identified and openly advocated for its ideologies. What at first seemed like some online trolls trying to provoke a reaction with sinister jokes, has now become a chilling reality. In May 2014, Elliot Rodger shot three college students at the University of California, killing two women, and injuring the third.
What is even more infuriating, Rodger posted a YouTube video stating his exact plans beforehand. Not only did Rodger say what is going to be done, but also explain why: he expressed his hatred towards women by explaining his sexual advances have been rejected by attractive women and that he is still a lonely virgin, therefore punishing them all. Elliot later turned the gun on himself. After Elliot Rodger’s death, it was discovered he was an active participant in ‘incel’ forums, writing extensive misogynistic posts.
Unfortunately, the shooting was not an isolated incident. George Sodini, Ben Moynihan, Chris Harper-Mercer, Sheldon Bentley, William Atchison, Nikolas Cruz, Alek, Minassian, Scott Beierle are a few names of individuals who murdered people all because they were sexually frustrated.
‘This evidence firmly refutes the idea that we need pay no attention to incels. This is a radical, extremist movement, at least tens of thousands of members strong, that deliberately spreads a doctrine of hate-fuelled misogyny and male supremacy, and actively advocates for the violent rape and murder of women.’ (L. Bates, 2020)
The problem with why people aren’t taking the ‘incel’ subculture seriously is not just the fact it is online, but that the community primarily targets women. How can it be taken seriously when violence against women offline is not taken seriously enough? After all, fewer than one in 60 rape cases reach conviction in England and Wales, making it a rate of 1.6%.
It is time we talk about how the internet can and does overlap with real life, and that it’s not just a joke. People have carried out violent attacks because of the ‘incel’ ideology, and solely banning online forums or websites is not enough anymore. It needs to be treated like the online radicalisation of Islamic extremists is. It is time we talk about it before more people get hurt. It is time.
References
‘Men Who Hate Women: The Extremism Nobody is Talking About, L. Bates, 2020.
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