Abstract- Consuming the blackpill: ideological grooming and the perpetuation of misogyny in incel communities

‘Incel’, short for ‘Involuntary Celibate’, originally referred to any individual who was unsuccessful in sexual or romantic relationships. However, the term is now widely associated with a new internet subculture of mostly men who ascribe to an ideology – the blackpill, founded in misogyny, white- supremacy, anti-feminism and right-wing extremism. Incels have been the subject of increased media, academic and security attention due to their association with mass murder and savage attacks. It would be inaccurate to call all Incels violent; however, it is clear that this subculture perpetuates a dangerous worldview. However, they have largely been othered and referred to as an extreme online subculture with novel misogynistic values distinct from wider society. However, the reality is that Incels are the product of a society that has long been rooted in misogyny. These online spaces are a reflection of the real world; shaped by anger, entitlement and hatred towards women. Drawing on an ethnographic study involving non-participant observation and thematic analysis of publicly available incel discussions and videos, and comments on social media platforms, as well as interviews with self-identified incels, this talk will consider the variety of harms both prominent and subtle, within incel communities and the ideology they propagate.