What Is An Incel?

Woman’s Own finds out more about this online community and what motivates them

- Katherine Denkinson

It was the worst fatal mass shooting to take place in the UK since the Cumbria shootings of 2010. Just last month, five people were shot dead in Plymouth by Jake Davison, before he turned the gun on himself. Aged 22, Davison owned a shotgun and held a shotgun licence. Before his rampage, he posted videos on YouTube, claiming he was ‘beaten down’ and ‘defeated by life’. A virgin, he said he was socially isolated, struggled to meet women and made references to ‘incels’. For many, it was the first time they’d heard the term - which refers to misogynistic online groups of ‘involuntary celibate’ men, who blame women for their sexual failings and who have been linked to violent acts. With many likening ‘incels’ to that of terrorists, writer Katherine Denkinson explains more about this misogynist group.

‘They cling to the belief that society is rigged against them’

Katherine Denkinson is a writer.

Five years ago, when I secretly joined an incel Reddit forum, I thought I knew what I was getting into: men and boys angry with women for refusing dates and venting their frustrations online.

As it turned out, this was the least of my concerns and the group proved itself to be the single most toxic platform on the site.