Abstract
This research aims to understand who Incels
are as a community and how they radicalize
and incite gender-based violence. I engage
in a thematic and critical discourse analysis
of discussion posts from popular Incels
website Incels.is to uncover the ways in
which the discourses employed by Incels are
shaped by, and are reflective of patriarchy,
heteronormativity and white supremacy. I
consider how Incels externalize the cause of
their involuntary celibacy and use women as
scapegoats for their lack of romantic and
sexual success and use biologically
determinist discourses to justify their anger
that they are unable to perform a
masculinity characterized by sexual conquest.
This research provides insight into how
Incels are not a mere fringe abnormality,
rather their misogyny is a logical but
extreme extension of patriarchal,
heteronormative and white supremacist
power relations.
This research aims to understand who Incels
are as a community and how they radicalize
and incite gender-based violence. I engage
in a thematic and critical discourse analysis
of discussion posts from popular Incels
website Incels.is to uncover the ways in
which the discourses employed by Incels are
shaped by, and are reflective of patriarchy,
heteronormativity and white supremacy. I
consider how Incels externalize the cause of
their involuntary celibacy and use women as
scapegoats for their lack of romantic and
sexual success and use biologically
determinist discourses to justify their anger
that they are unable to perform a
masculinity characterized by sexual conquest.
This research provides insight into how
Incels are not a mere fringe abnormality,
rather their misogyny is a logical but
extreme extension of patriarchal,
heteronormative and white supremacist
power relations.
