What are incels?

Incels is short for involuntary celibates. They are individuals, mostly heterosexual men, who feel unable to form romantic or sexual relationships. What started as an online subculture has grown into a movement linked to misogyny, rising violence, and gender inequality.   
 

What does 'incel' mean?

The term ‘incel’ is a blend of the words ‘involuntary celibate’.

Incels think they can't form sexual or romantic relationships. They blame this on their looks, how they see social structures, and their status in society. 

The core elements of incel culture

Incel culture believes that some men will remain celibate due to women’s choices and social structures. Core elements include:

• Fatalism about dating (the view that it’s predetermined they will never date)
• Resentment toward women who are seen as shallow or manipulative
• Hostility toward men who are perceived as more attractive or successful with women.

Online forums amplify these ideas. They create echo chambers full of slang, memes, and shared frustrations. Not all incels support violence. However, the culture often normalises misogyny, self-pity, and blame. This reinforces a sense of being a victim. Instead of helping them grow or connect better. 

Origins and evolution online

The origins of incels online can be traced to the early 1990s. The term "involuntary celibate" was first used in 1993 by a Canadian woman named Alana. She shared it on her personal website called ‘Alana’s Involuntary Celibacy Project’. She wanted to build a welcoming online space for anyone facing challenges in romantic or sexual relationships

In the 2000s, forums like Reddit and 4Chan became places for incels to share their frustrations. These online spaces became popular and more dominated by men. They also became more misogynistic. Strict hierarchies were formed, along with extreme resentment towards women.

By the 2010s, sites like Incels.me and subreddits such as r/incels became key places for anti-feminist and often radical discussions. But in 2017, Reddit banned r/incels for ‘violent content’. 
 

Belief in involuntary celibacy 

Involuntary celibacy relates to a person’s desire for romantic or sexual relationships. However, they feel unable to pursue them. Or denied them due to factors like looks, social skills, confidence, or external circumstances.

Unlike voluntary celibacy, incels don’t choose to be celibate. They harbour resentment towards women and society as a whole. 

The 80/20 rule

The 80/20 rule is a well-known theory also known as the Pareto principle. It was created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto.

He theorised that roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. In 1906 he observed that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by just 20% of the population. 

Incels distort this idea to claim that 80% of women are attracted to the top 20% of men. These are the men seen as the ‘best looking’ or who have classic masculine traits – the ‘Chads’. This has no basis in reality or research.

The “Chad, Stacy & Becky” myth

In incel culture, “Chad,” “Stacy,” and “Becky” are stereotypes. They are used to explain social and sexual hierarchies.

“Chads” represent the stereotypically attractive, tall, muscular, confident, socially popular men who attract women easily. Incels see Chads as unfairly taking over romantic opportunities.

The reality is that attraction and confidence are shaped by lots of factors. Not all attractive men are hyper-masculine. The notion that only “top-tier” mean find love is false and fuels resentment.

“Stacys” represent the idealised, attractive woman who only dates Chads. She is viewed by incels as shallow and dismissive of less attractive men. Men in incel culture both desire Stacys and despise them. In reality, women are unique people with different likes and dislikes. This stereotype shows women as shallow and manipulative. It is a stereotype that fuels misogyny. 

“Beckys” represent the ‘average’ woman who is less attractive and glamorous than Stacys. They are still considered to be out of reach or difficult to impress. In this stereotype, women not seen as “ideal” are also resented for their perceived dating power. Incels ignore the fact that women, like men, have dating struggles and insecurities.

All of these stereotypes reinforce misogyny, resentment, and victimhood within the incel community. Based on myths, they act as ‘facts’ to justify anger towards women. This shifts the blame for romantic rejection from personal situations to shallow social structures.

Incel glossary

Memes and community-specific slang are a big part of how incels communicate. Here’s a glossary of common terms used by incels.

• Incel – short for “involuntary celibate". This is a heterosexual male who can’t find a romantic or sexual partner, even though he wants one.
• Chad – a stereotypically attractive, confident, socially successful man. He easily attracts women.
• Stacy – a sexually desirable woman who likes Chads. She is seen as shallow and unattainable by "normal" men.
• Becky – an ‘average-looking’ woman. She is viewed as less glamorous than Stacys but still seen to be out of reach.
• Red pill and blue pill  – these terms originate from the nineties film The Matrix.  The blue pill means remaining ignorant to the ‘real world’. The red pill represents "waking up" to reality - as experienced by incels. In this world, women control sexual satisfaction as a commodity. 
• Black pill – this is believing the views of the red pill, but the black pill is a fatalistic worldview. Meaning they don’t believe that society will change or that their lives will improve.
• Normies – people who are socially average.
• Foids / Femoids – abbreviations of ‘female humanoid’. These are derogatory terms for women. They dehumanise women and imply they are robots.
• Looksmaxxing – these are efforts to become as attractive as you can. It is tied to social media. It takes healthy ideas, like exercising, and pushes them to unhealthy extremes. The goal is to use them to find a romantic partner. 
   

Why is the incel movement growing?

A mix of social, psychological, and technological factors are driving the global growth of the incel movement. Online forums and platforms like 4chan, Discord, and Incels.is provide a safe space for members to share their frustrations. They act like echo chambers. They amplify misogynistic rhetoric and create a sense of community.

 Many incel members feel inadequate or lonely. Or experience rejection by women. Incels often blame women or society for how they feel. They avoid taking personal responsibility for what happens to them. Some are from vulnerable backgrounds and are preyed upon. 

Radicalisation usually starts with the “red pill”. This is where people become aware of certain gender truths. Then it can shift to the “black pill,” which brings a fatalistic view of the world. This process can lead to extreme beliefs or even violence. Media coverage of incel incidents raises awareness. However, it can also glamorise the subculture by accident.

Social isolation and mental health challenges

Many men who join incel communities feel lonely, anxious, or have low self-esteem. All of which can make forming romantic or social connections difficult. 

Online incel spaces provide a sense of community and validation. But they also amplify negative thinking. They and blame women as a whole or society at large for personal struggles. They normalise a sense of hopelessness.

This cycle can worsen mental health. It can increase feelings of alienation. Sometimes it can lead to radicalisation or violent thoughts or action. Incels crave belonging, but toxic dynamics trap them in a harsh cycle. Breaking this cycle needs support, intervention, and inclusive social networks.

Economic insecurity and widening gender gaps

Incels are often linked to economic insecurity and gender gaps. When men have trouble finding stable jobs or feel economically behind, they may feel less "desirable" for dating. This is because, traditionally, financial security has been linked to ideas of masculinity and attractiveness.

At the same time, as women gain more education and income, the dating pool changes. Many women seek partners with equal or higher status. However, fewer men meet those expectations. This mismatch can cause some men to feel resentful. They often blame women instead of looking at wider economic changes. But incels don’t just resent the economic gap, they struggle with women having any power. Together, inequality and changing gender roles can feed the frustration that drives incel communities.
 

The role of online spaces in spreading incel ideology

Online spaces play a huge role in spreading incel ideology. Forums, social media groups, and niche websites give isolated boys and men a place to vent frustrations. As well as find others who feel the same. Incels themselves can also be preyed upon in these communities. This is through those seeking power over others and encouraging others’ negative self-views and harmful views of women.

Over time, these communities can become echo chambers. They often exaggerate, repeat, and reinforce negative views about women, relationships, and society. In these communities, these views become the norm, so dissent or disagreement isn’t allowed.

Memes, slang from the community, and shared stories build a sense of belonging. But they also reinforce blame and resentment, rather than healthier coping skills. Platforms' algorithms can make things worse by pushing users toward more extreme content. In short, online spaces don’t just host incel ideas, they amplify and harden them.

The connection to the manosphere

Incel groups are a broader part of the larger manosphere. This is an online ecosystem with communities that promote misogyny and anti-feminist views. The manosphere includes groups like Men's Rights Activists (MRAs), Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW), and Pick-Up Artists (PUAs). Influencers like Andrew Tate are also part of it. 

They share a common belief that society has become biased against men due to the growing influence of feminism. They think feminists promote misandry, or hatred of men. They want to make harmful hypersexual masculinity the main idea in society. Understanding how these groups connect is key to tackling online misogyny and its real-world effects. 
 

How incel-driven misogyny affects women’s safety and freedom

Incel-driven misogyny can make women less safe. It fuels harassment, stalking, and even violence. This is because some incels view women as enemies. They often blame women for their loneliness and feelings of inadequacy. Online spaces spread hateful ideas that normalise treating women as objects or rivals. This can pressure women to change how they dress, date, or their movements, to avoid unwanted attention or danger. Even if most incels don’t act violently, the extreme ones create fear. The culture itself reinforces sexist attitudes that lead to real-world harm. The outcome is more risks, less freedom, and a greater emotional burden for women in daily life.
 

How prevalent is incel inspired violence?

According to the American Institute for Boys and Men, there are approximately 20,000 active users of Incel.is (the largest incel forum)[1]. About 59 people worldwide have been killed in ideologically motivated killings by incel members. While this means that incel violence is quite rare at present, the impact of such incidents is significant. There is growing awareness of the risks of misogynistic violence.   
 

How can we respond to incel ideology?

To address incel ideology, we must tackle its root causes. These include isolation, mental health issues, and a lack of belonging. We also need to challenge the toxic narratives that support it.

 A few examples of how we can respond to it include:

• Promoting healthy masculinity - encouraging models of masculinity which are based on empathy, respect and equality.
• Creating alternative communities - offering safe online and offline spaces where socially isolated men can find belonging. This way they can connect without falling into extremist groups.
• Addressing mental health needs - providing access to counselling, peer support and programmes that help address loneliness, social anxiety and depression.
• Challenging misinformation - providing education that dispels myths about women and relationships. 
   

Building resilience and promoting gender equality education

We build resilience and promote gender equality by educating people to challenge harmful stereotypes. Early schooling that teaches empathy, respect, and healthy relationships. Schools, families, and the media should showcase positive role models of all genders. They should also highlight different paths to success. Economic and social policies that support equal opportunities help to reinforce these lessons. These include closing gender pay gaps, valuing caregiving, and ensuring safety. Encouraging critical thinking helps young people stand up to harmful online narratives. By combining education, policy, and supportive communities, we can create a culture where everyone can thrive.

Reclaiming the online narrative

Reclaiming the online narrative means amplifying healthy, inclusive voices over harmful ones. Some of the ways we can do this are by:

• Flooding platforms with positive content - promoting stories of healthy masculinity, respect, and equality.
• Creating supportive communities - providing safe spaces where people, especially teenage boys and men, can talk about loneliness, rejection, and struggles without fear of shame.
• Using positive influencers and role models - highlighting relatable men who counter toxic ideas and promote empathy.
• Holding platforms to account - campaigning for stronger moderation of hate speech and algorithm tweaks to limit echo chambers.
• Teaching digital literacy - helping users to spot manipulation, extremism, and unhealthy patterns online.

The role of charities like Plan International UK in promoting equality

Charities, like Plan International UK, play a vital role in promoting equality. We empower girls to know their rights and make their own choices. But, to achieve gender equality, we need everyone. Working together with men and boys is critical.

References

[1] American Institute for Boys and Men – What adolescence gets right and wrong about incels