What is an incel? Meaning explained
THE incel movement promotes the misogynistic idea that men are entitled to have sex with women.
Incel believers are members of an online subculture who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one.
What is an incel? Definition explained
"Incel” has become a buzzword for certain men infuriated at being rejected by women and prone to float ideas for violent payback, according to sociologists and others who study them.
Incels are defined as involuntary celibates of an online subculture who characterize themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one.
Characteristics of incels are often resentment, misogyny, misanthropy, self-pity, self-loathing, racism, a sense of entitlement to sex and the endorsement of violence against sexually active people.
The described the subculture as "part of the online male supremacist ecosystem" that is included in their list of hate groups.
According to the outlet, incels are mostly male and heterosexual, and claims to be predominantly white.
According to reports, since 2014 at least six mass murders, which resulted in 44 deaths, have been committed by men who have either self-identified as incels or who had mentioned the group in writings or internet postings.
Who started the incel subculture?
The first online community to use the term incel was reported in 1993, when a Canadian university student known only as Alana, created a website in order to discuss her sexual inactivity with others.
The website, Alana's Involuntary Celibacy Project, was used by people of all genders to share their thoughts and experiences.
In 1997, Alana started a mailing list on the topic for anybody of any gender who was lonely, had never had sex or who hadn't had a relationship in a long time.
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In 2000, the student realized she was bisexual, becoming more comfortable with her sexual identity and gave up the site to a stranger.
Since the early 2000s, the subculture has expanded onto websites like love-shy.com, IncelSupport, as well as into online communities like , 4chan and .