Echo Chambers of Despair: Applying Male Peer Support to Incel Radicalization

• In Event: Contemporary Issues in Gendered Violence: Radicalization, Media Framing, and Researcher Wellbeing

Abstract

In recent years, the term incel, which stands for “involuntary celibate,” has increased in popularity in online spaces. Incels are defined groups of men who gather online to express grievances regarding their lack of sexual relationships, voicing resentment towards women. Incels are an understudied phenomenon and when studied, it has lacked a comprehensive theoretical analysis. Due to self-imposed social isolation and perceived rejection at the hands of women, these communities provide validation to young boys and men. They bond through these belief systems, thereby reinforcing and strengthening them, making this phenomenon easily explored through male peer support theory (MPST). This theory incorporates patriarchal ideology, a narrow conception of masculinity, group secrecy, and the sexual objectification of women (DeKeseredy & Schwartz, 1993), all of which can be easily applied to incels. Findings reveal that attending to the support men give each other in these communities is essential for understanding how men remain in radicalized spaces. MPST fails to discuss how young men are socialized prior to joining these online spaces and how this affects their involvement and embracement of incel ideology. This article calls attention to the need to study this phenomena to advance prevention strategies guided by theory.

Authors

• Ericka Y. Portillo, West Virginia University

• Mackenzie Freeman, West Virginia University

• Brandie Pugh, West Virginia University

• Elizabeth Moberly, West Virginia University