“No friends, no job, no girlfriend”: en kritisk diskursanalys om Incels kollektiva identitet på forumet Incels.is
Abstract [en]
The thesis aims to examine Incels discourses concerning
their collective identity on the online forum Incels.is.
Further investigation discovered that Incels produce and
reproduce their collective identity through discourses.
Incels are men in “involuntary celibacy” who gather
online to share their frustration and dissatisfaction
against society, and especially women. The data was
collected through netnography and encompasses fifteen
threads from the forum Incels.is. The material was
analyzed through critical discourse analysis and the
theories of collective identity and connective action. The
theories uncover Incels collective identity and discourses
created via language. The study shows that Incels create
a collective identity through sharing specific
characteristics, sharing emotional experiences,
positioning themselves against the rest of society,
sharing life experiences, sharing ideological perceptions
concerning societal constructs, giving and receiving
advice, as well as using slang and memes. Discourses
were further related to each of these findings. Such
discourses include how Incels create a “we” against
“them”. This study addresses a research gap concerning
Incels and identity and has thus contributed to the
research tradition of radical online groups and identity.
Many countries have identified Incels as a concern due
to their violent tendencies and permeating misogynistic
views. Hence, research on Incels is of societal
significance.
Abstract [en]
The thesis aims to examine Incels discourses concerning
their collective identity on the online forum Incels.is.
Further investigation discovered that Incels produce and
reproduce their collective identity through discourses.
Incels are men in “involuntary celibacy” who gather
online to share their frustration and dissatisfaction
against society, and especially women. The data was
collected through netnography and encompasses fifteen
threads from the forum Incels.is. The material was
analyzed through critical discourse analysis and the
theories of collective identity and connective action. The
theories uncover Incels collective identity and discourses
created via language. The study shows that Incels create
a collective identity through sharing specific
characteristics, sharing emotional experiences,
positioning themselves against the rest of society,
sharing life experiences, sharing ideological perceptions
concerning societal constructs, giving and receiving
advice, as well as using slang and memes. Discourses
were further related to each of these findings. Such
discourses include how Incels create a “we” against
“them”. This study addresses a research gap concerning
Incels and identity and has thus contributed to the
research tradition of radical online groups and identity.
Many countries have identified Incels as a concern due
to their violent tendencies and permeating misogynistic
views. Hence, research on Incels is of societal
significance.
