Ten years ago, incels - or "involuntary celibates" - were still a niche internet phenomenon. Today, their language and ideology is firmly anchored in the digital mainstream, such as on TikTok.
Incels are followers of the so-called "backpill" ideology. This worldview is characterised by fatalism, self-hatred and misogyny.
Incels believe that they are entitled to sex because of their gender, but that women deny them this right. This is because women are superficial and depraved by nature and only desire the most attractive of men, so-called "chads". At the same time, according to Incels, sex is the foundation course for a good life; by depriving them of sex, women are depriving them of a happy life.
For Incels, this assumption is the foundation course for their hatred of women, which manifests itself time and again in violence, including femicide and terrorist attacks.
In her analysis, author Veronika Kracher explains what characterises the incel movement, how it has developed - and why incels are not an exceptional phenomenon within patriarchal relationships, but rather their logical advanced course.
The lecture is funded by the Equal Opportunities Office of the University of Applied Sciences Aachen.
