Understanding Incels and the 'manosphere'

1. Guide aim

2. What are Incels?

Understanding Incels and the 'manosphere'

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

This guide is to provide a basic overview of the Incel online subculture and where possible concerns – including safeguarding, ill mental health, and Prevent – may arise. Depending on the specific circumstances, acts of violence by Incels may or may not be assessed as terrorism, depending on what the specific motivation for that attack is. As the Incel online subculture is itself complicated, some cases that are Incel, or Incel-type motivated, may be assessed as extremist or terrorist, while others may not. Whilst some involved in Incel subculture may advocate for violence, many young people that identify with Incels may have low self-esteem and subscribe to the view that they are inherently deficient in some way and therefore view Incel as an identity rather than an ideology. The most common risk relating to Incels is self-directed harm, including suicidal ideation and actions. This guidance is not comprehensive, and both the context of the individual and most appropriate way to support them should always be taken into account. If you are ever unsure speak to a member of the safeguarding team.

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

1. Guide aim

This guide will help you understand:

2. What are Incels?

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

• what Incels are
• which terms and concepts are used by Incels
• potential harms of engaging with Incel subculture(s)
• what to do if you are concerned about someone who is engaging with Incel online subculture

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

1. Guide aim

What are Incels?

2. What are Incels?

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

What do they believe?

1. Guide aim

2. What are Incels?

Prior to women gaining sexual and financial autonomy, a woman’s freedom to choose their partner was restricted because of their reliance on a husband for physical and material security.

3. What do they believe?

Genetic factors influence their physical appearance and/or cognitive and social abilities to the extent that they are unattractive to women.

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

That with the advancement of women’s rights, independence, and sexual freedoms, women now select sexual relationships with a small group of sexually desirable men.

7. Other terms/concepts

Their situation and what happens to them is outside of their own control, as a result some blame others (including women, attractive men and society)

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

1. Guide aim

Catergories of Incel

2. What are Incels?

Members of Incel subculture(s) regularly use jargon and have developed a distinct dialect. Incels often use dehumanising terms for women, such as "femoids", and use stereotypes and generalisations to define both those inside and outside of the Incel subculture(s).

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

1. Guide aim

Terminology and emojis

2. What are Incels?

The terms "red pill" and "blue pill" refer to a choice between the willingness to learn a potentially unsettling or life-changing truth by taking the red pill, or remaining in contented ignorance with the blue pill. In the Incel subculture the pills and emoji's represent:

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

Emojis

Previous page

1. Guide aim

Archetypes and caricatures

Incels define themselves by creating archetypes and caricatures of those they consider to be outside of, or adversaries of, their subculture. Many of these archetypes are based on mysogynistic or bigoted stereotypes. It is important to note that although many of these terms originated in Incel subsculture(s), they have gained wider use across the internet and aren't necessarily indications that a young person is engaged in Incel subculture.

2. What are Incels?

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

1. Guide aim

Other concepts/terms

The 'manosphere' The ‘Manosphere’ is a loose collection of online anti-feminist, misogynistic, pro-men communities, this includes Incels. It also includes: Men going their own way (MGTOW): who believe in ‘pilling’, male separatism and that society has been ‘corrupted’ by feminism Men’s rights activists (MRA): some of whom consider men to be ‘victims of feminism’ Pick-up artists (PUA): who believe success with women can be achieved through methods of psychological manipulation Mental health/suicidal tendencies of Incel Mental health issues are very much present at the forefront of the Incel ideology. Self-harm and suicidal ideation are common amongst Incels, and many reference suicide in their avatars, usernames or taglines, and often post about suicidal thoughts. Seeking support for mental health issues is actively discouraged within the community. Popular mental health related terminology include: Rope / Roping: one of the most popular terms amongst Incels used to imply suicide. Lay Down and Rot (LDAR): used to indicate that there is no hope and no point in life, so you should simply lie down and rot in your bedroom.

2. What are Incels?

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

1. Guide aim

Why is it important?

2. What are Incels?

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

1. Guide aim

Case study

During an English lesson, John (16) and his classmates were tasked with producing a poster to promote the William Shakespeare play ‘Romeo and Juliet’. During this lesson John began to refer to Romeo as ‘Chad’, Juliet as ‘Stacey’, his teacher didn’t understand these references and assumed that they were an inside-joke between classmates. A few weeks later, John’s teacher was invited to a Prevent training session the academy trust had arranged to help school staff understand more about the Incel movement. The training session covered specific terminology used by Incels and at this point the teacher realised they had heard a student of theirs, John, using these terms in the classroom. The teacher became concerned that John was at risk of being drawn in by the online subculture. After speaking with the academy's designated safeguarding lead (DSL), it was agreed that a conversation with John was needed to understand where he had heard these terms and why he was using them in the classroom. Once they had more information both the teacher and the DSL would be better placed to understand what, if any, action was needed. During the conversation with John, the DSL explained why the terms he had been using were concerning, what the Incel ideology believes and why the DSL was concerned about him using them in the classroom. John revealed that he had seen these terms online and had used them at school because he found them funny and was hoping to make his friends laugh. He said he was unaware that some could find the terms offensive and did not want to cause anyone to feel offended or upset. It was determined that although John had used these terms, he had no strong feelings toward the Incel subculture and had used them to gain the attention of others rather than signal his agreement with the Incel worldview. After further discussion between John’s teacher and the academy’s designated safeguarding lead, it was agreed that this incident did not meet the threshold for Prevent. Instead of a referral, they agreed to: - arrange a call with John’s parent/carer to explain which harmful content John had been accessing, and on which websites and platforms - ensure that students in the school received PHSE lessons covering sexism and healthy relationships organise further training and knowledge building sessions for school staff.

2. What are Incels?

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

1. Guide aim

What to do?

If you think someone is in immediate danger, or if you see or hear something that may be terrorist-related, trust your instincts and call 999 or the confidential AntiTerrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. Always speak to a member of the safeguarding team for support. What should parents/carers do? - Get Curious, Not Combative – Ask open-ended questions: “I saw something about emojis meaning different things. Have you heard of this?” Keep the conversation light. - Create a Judgment-Free Zone – If your child feels like they’ll be punished for opening up, they won’t. Make it clear you’re there to listen, not just lecture. - Decode Together – Ask them to explain their digital world. What do different symbols mean? Who are the influencers they follow? Don’t assume—ask. - Teach Critical Thinking – Help them question online content. “Why do you think some groups push this idea? Who benefits?” Arm them with questions, not just rules. - Monitor Without Spying – Open conversations work better than secret surveillance. Make checking in on their online spaces a normal part of parenting, not a crisis move. - Be Real About Manipulation – Explain how toxic online groups groom young people by making them feel special, included, or like they have ‘insider knowledge.’Build Their Offline Confidence – The more they feel valued and confident in the real world, the less they’ll seek validation in dangerous online spaces.

2. What are Incels?

3. What do they believe?

4. Categories of Incel

5. Terminology

6. Archetypes/caricatures

7. Other terms/concepts

8. Why is this important?

9. Case study

10. What to do

The Incel subculture mainly operates online, and can be seen as more of a subculture than a coherent group or organisation. Incels sometimes use highly specialised language developed by themselves, and use it to communicate in online forums and share their worldview.

Some Incels express intense hatred for women, believing that they are entitled to sexual and romantic attention, and perceive women as denying them this need. Some followers of this online subculture also target attractive or sexually active men as well as women.

Does the 'pill' someone takes indicate whether they are violent or not? Whilst a minority of Incels view the subculture as an actionoriented ideology, most see it as an unchanging feature of their identity and have a more passive, defeatist belief in biologicaldeterminism. Although not always the case, those subscribing to the 'Black Pill' may be more inclined to self-harm, whilst those subscribed to the 'Red Pill' may be more inclined to take extreme action against others.

Are Incels connected to organised extremist groups? Some Incels appear to subscribe to extreme right-wing ideologies. Their choice of avatars, usernames and taglines incorporate violent extreme right-wing symbols, and some share videos or manifestos related to violent extreme right-wing attacks and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Whilst Islamist content is more carefully policed by Incel moderators, Incel avatars referencing Islamist groups do exist. Some Incels are interested in the ideology and actions of extremist groups that offer access to sex or disrupt society through targeted violence. Incels discuss the merits of both violent extreme right-wing groups and Islamists, which advocate for traditional gender roles or sexual slavery, as potential solutions to their viriginity. Some members of Incel communities also celebrate violent extremist attacks because of the deaths and injuries inflicted on non-Incel members of society, especially women.

Incels are self defined 'involuntary celibates' who believe that they are unable to form sexual relationships with women due to a combination of their looks and their perception of societal structures.