This is part of our safeguarding insights section. Our aim is to provide you with a broader understanding of a specific topic through a researched and referenced article that contributes towards your professional development and ensures that you can support your staff accordingly.
| 15 minute read | DSLs and Safeguarding Teams |
Introduction
The mass shooting in Plymouth (BBC, 14th August 2021) was linked to an individual who referenced the incel movement and also reportedly expressed “deeply misogynistic ideas” (The Guardian, 13th August 2021). This led to government sources suggesting that Gavin Williamson, the then Education Secretary, “expects teachers to be able to tackle the risks from incel culture through the relationships, sex and health education (RHSE) curriculum within schools.” (The Guardian, 20th August 2021)
In this safeguarding insight, we will consider what incel is, how this is a safeguarding issue as well as an RHSE matter, as well as how to address incel culture. In our discussions within Safeguarding Network, the clear view has been that whilst this does need to be addressed, it also needs to be done so in a manner that does not promote the culture above others or provide to with special prominence. Towards the end of this insight, we will therefore look at how we feel incel can be addressed within training that is already on safeguarding agendas.
What are people referring to when they talk about incel?
Incel is a shortened version of involuntary celibate (Hall, 2019), with Hoffman et al. (2020) suggesting that its origins were through a website created in 1997 by a female undergraduate which had the aim of “giving individuals an outlet for expressing their frustration over sexuality and dating” (p.3). The term involuntary celibate was seen as a person who “had not had sex for some time, despite trying” (ibid.).
With the growth of the internet and the ability to use it as a forum to develop and promote extremist viewpoints, a strand of incel was seen to develop into a “rigid three-tier, immutable, social hierarchy exclusively based on physical appearance” (Baele et al., cited in Brace, 2021). At its most basic, the incel world view appears to be based in our deep-rooted survival of the fittest ideals, namely that there are alpha males and females (known as Chads and Staceys) representing the top tier, with a majority of men in the middle tier (known as Normies) and then and exclusive minority group of males in the bottom tier who are the incels. This world view suggests that women are not only genetically inferior to men but are solely driven by an inherent sexual desire to mate with males who they see as genetically superior to them. This naturally then leads to the view that those in the bottom tier (the incels) will automatically be excluded by any woman.
The black pill
Literature around incels refers to them talking about taking the black pill. This builds on a concept seen in the 1999 film, The Matrix, where the lead character, Neo, is offered the choice between a red pill and a blue pill. He is told that if he takes the blue pill his world will not change and he can continue to live in a world of illusion constructed for his benefit, whilst if he takes the red pill he will awaken and see the society around him for what it actually is with all its harsh realities. For incels therefore, the taking of the red pill equates to understanding the truth of society, however it appears that this view is not limited to incels but is found within wider misogynistic groupings. Ging (cited in Hoffman et al. (ibid)) suggests that:
The “manosphere”, of which incels consider themselves a part, posits that taking the “red pill” reveals truths about women and society. It empowers those who take it to fully recognize the inherently shallow nature of women, but also to understand better how men can manipulate and exploit these supposed female characteristics.
(The term manosphere is used to describe a network of online communities which are male dominated and promote anti-feminist, sexist beliefs and seek to blame women for problems within society (Aiston, 2021). Whilst not the subject of this safeguarding insight, we need to be aware of the existence of the manosphere and its impact, with UK research by Hope not Hate (2020) demonstrating that whilst young people are likely to be more socially liberal than their older peers, there is a significant proportion who hold “problematic views around race and gender” (p.8), with the make-up of this group largely being male). Underpinning these issues is the wider malaise identified in the Ofsted Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools & Colleges (June 2021) highlighting the generalised sexual objectification of young girls and prevalence of sexual abuse and harassment.
Incels appear to have taken the pill analogy a step further, with reference to “taking the black pill”. Hoffman et al. (ibid.) consider this to be a nihilistic approach, with the black pill being seen as providing an enhanced understanding of reality, one where “women and society are intrinsically biased against men who lack specific physical attributes, who therefore have no hope of ever being attractive to women or even accepted by society” (p.6), with incels who take the black pill taking the view that their position as an incel is a permanent condition from which there is no escape. Kelly et al. (2021) build on this, stating that those who adhere to the black pill mentality hold the view that change on an individual level is not possible and issues can only be addressed on a societal level, and therefore any attempts to change their personal lot in life (which others in the manosphere may do by working out, having plastic surgery, with a view to elevating themselves to Chad status) are futile.
The need for balance
Kelly et al. (ibid.) suggest that there should be a distinction in the terms that are used between incels and misogynist incels. In putting this argument forward they recognise that there are a significant number of people, including women, who identify as incels, whilst there is only a minority who dehumanise women and espouse male entitlement.
Within the wider involuntary celibate group there are a number of different groupings, including those who are married or living with their partner, but the partner no longer desires sex, as well as un-partnered singles who are unable to currently find a partner. This group includes both men and women of all sexual orientations and is a grouping that has been around for a long time (Donnelly et al., 2001). This of course is in stark contrast to the misogynist incels.
Therefore, whilst in this safeguarding insight we refer to incels as this is the colloquially accepted term, we need to look to the individual, their experiences and beliefs.
Typology of misogynistic incels
Stijelja (2021) highlights quantitative research undertaken into the online forums that are used by incels. This identifies that incels are exclusively male with the vast majority under the age of 30. The majority of members of the forums were from Europe or North America, but whilst there was a large group of white males (45% in one study), there was no dominant racial subgroup. The same research shows that the majority say that they had never had a sexual encounter. The groups also self-identified high levels of mental health issues, as well as experience of ostracisation from peers and others whilst growing up.
Stijelja (ibid.), summarises research completed by Hintz and Baker (2021) which looks at how incel identities are developed and maintained. This found:
Using thematic analysis, the authors identified several factors explaining how Incel identities are developed and sustained. Physical appearance (e.g., body weight, height), ability status (e.g., speech impediment, learning disability), mental health issues (e.g., social anxiety, depression), and emotional and physical abuse at home (e.g., emotionally abusive mother or father) were common themes. Other themes included: personality issues and social ineptitudes, being closeted about one’s sexual orientation or gender identity, a lack of effort, and certain beliefs about masculinity, sex, and relationships. (p.10)
Both Stijelja (ibid.) and Currier (2021) however argue that the research that is available clearly shows that the incelosphere is not a homogenous, high aggressive community, but one where different groupings exist, with only a minority being aggressive individuals who have the potential to act out the violent commentary that they express in forums.
How prevalent is incel-inspired violence?
Hall (2019) in his review of terrorism legislation identifies that there are occasions where the sexual frustration will then be translated into violence, with perceived incel based 'revenge' attacks against women appearing to take place in America from 2014 onwards. Michael (TES, 28th February 2021) recounts an attack in Canada where a white van mounted the pavement and ran over pedestrians, killing 10 of them.
In relation to the UK, Hall (ibid.) suggests that; “In 2019 the arrest of Anwar Driouich raised the spectre of incel-inspired violence in the United Kingdom. Driouich had acquired a component of high explosives and seven terrorist manuals and was obsessed by terrorism and other mass casualty attacks. Although he had searched for materials about incels, it was accepted by the police that he did not have any “terrorist mind-set”.” (p.22)
As well as the recent Plymouth case, there have been a handful of others recently in the UK with links to incel, including one heard in a Scottish court in January 2021 where the male had bought together a significant collection of weapons and was found to have researched incel and, more specifically, mass murders, “including some motivated by incel” (Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service, 2021).
As we have already seen above however, incel linked attacks are considered to be sporadic.
Is this extremism and/or terrorism?
Brace (2021) suggests that “the incel ideology exhibits all the hallmarks of an extremist ideology”. He continues that this includes views around belonging and ostracisation (in and out groups) as well as the development of narratives to resolve the inherent presenting issue. As with extremist ideologies, the out groups (in this case women, Chads and Normies) are depicted in an extreme negative light and then further dehumanised by the language that is used. All this is considered to be very much in line with supremacist ideology.
Hoffman et al. (2020) demonstrate how the first perpetrator of recognised incel violence has been elevated to the position of patron saint of the incel movement:
—an ideological touchstone and inspiration. Extremist incels, for instance, routinely encourage each other to “go ER;” that is, to follow Rodger’s murderous precedent by engaging in similar acts of terrorism before taking their own lives. (p.10)
Recent estimates suggest that the incel movement claimed approximately 40-50 lives around the world between 2014 and 2020 (The Guardian, 3rd March 2021), although it is accepted that this is likely to be a high figure, as it includes several school shootings in America where the perpetrators listed incel ideology as part of their wider grievances.
In his government commissioned independent review of terrorism legislation in the UK, Hall (2019) sets out that The Terrorism Act 2000 has three cumulative criteria that must be met for an act to qualify as terrorism, namely there must be a certain level of seriousness, there must be a particular target (which serves to influence government, a government organisation or a section of the public) and the use must be for the purpose of advancing a cause (which includes an ideological cause). Hall (ibid.) sets out that the broadness of these criteria means that incel violence could be captured under the definition of terrorism, however he goes on to add a note of caution about the drawbacks of doing this, linked with the associated powers and the public perception if something is classified as terrorism (i.e. leads to questioning what is understood by terrorism, a potential increase in feelings of insecurity in the population and also risks glamourising the ideology and pulling others in). He notes that it is the Police who in practice apply the definition of terrorism and therefore decide whether to class something as a terrorist act, and mandates the use of a incremental approach, stating:
In the case of both investigators and prosecutors an incremental approach is likely, and desirable. External demands for deviant behaviours to be recognised as terrorism should be resisted, and a decision to treat something as terrorism should never be paraded as a sign of strength or virtue. The use of terrorism powers is better considered as a necessary but regrettable response to behaviour when ordinary criminal law and processes are insufficient. (p.35)
This incremental approach is therefore also a key issue when discussing incel ideology – there is a need to balance up the media and public perception of associated acts of violence with the knowledge that they remain rare, sporadic and uncoordinated, and only enacted by a relatively small minority of a larger group. This balance is important when discussing incel ideology in your settings as to not do so could risk children and young people being labelled as a terrorist by their peers and targeted through social media if they appear in the view of others to have incel characteristics.
Bates (2020), offers a counter view to this approach, suggesting that such acts of violence linked to misogynist views are not being labelled as terrorism as that would offend men and that the response is therefore inherently wound up in wider societal issues that potentially contribute to the development of the incel ideology in the first place:
We do not use the word ‘terrorism’ when describing a crime of mass murder committed by a white man with the explicit intention of creating terror and spreading hatred against a specific demographic group – even though that is the definition of terrorism – if the demographic in question is women. The man is just ‘disturbed’, ‘deranged’, a ‘lone wolf. We use language that designates him an outlier, an aberration. We do not call his online journey a ‘radicalisation’ or use the word ‘extremism’ to label the online communities in which he has immersed himself, though we would reach for those words in an instant when describing other, similar types of crimes, committed by other, different types of men. We do not examine what led him to commit those acts or how he became so full of hate. (p.3)
Safeguarding and incel ideology
As we identified at the start of this insight, the information presented above in our view supports the position that with staff this can be addressed within wider staff safeguarding training that is already available as opposed to having a standalone training session.
From our perspective, there are four areas where the groundwork in relation to responding to incel ideology can be addressed:
- Prevent training – the prevent strategy has the stated aim of preventing people being drawn into terrorism. Given the views presented above, incel ideologies would fall within this strategy, which has always not only covered Islamist and far right groups, but also areas such as animal rights extremism and, in our case, incel groups.
- Domestic abuse – a number of the views that are inherent in the incel ideology that we have been discussing can arguably be seen in incidents of domestic violence, for example association with male privilege and viewing females as property or lesser beings.
- Peer-on-peer abuse – in looking at the typology set out above, arguably both victims and perpetrators of peer-on-peer abuse could be demonstrating potential to identify with the incel ideology later in life, either through the isolation and ostricisation that could come with being a victim of peer-on-peer abuse, or through the ideology having associations with current views that perpetrators may have.
- Sexual violence and sexual harassment – As we have seen, those who are following the incel ideology set out above have every set and misogynistic views in relation to women and their role in society. For some this may therefore play out in inappropriate sexual behaviour which must be consistently responded to.
Within this there is therefore a need for a multi-faceted approach to managing the response in your setting, but one that ensures that the learning for all is blended into existing processes. As we have highlighted, the risk associated with separating incel ideology out is that it then becomes a point of focus and there is the potential for there to be a “kick-back” on young people perceived to be celibate (whether voluntarily or involuntarily), or those who are considered by their peers to be exhibiting signs of being an incel. The key areas therefore include:
- Giving regular safeguarding updates to staff with a view to developing their understanding of where addressing incel ideology sits within the safeguarding arena. As with peer-on-peer abuse, this is not just a secondary school issue, or just an issue for further education. Children in younger settings may have older siblings who are either looking into the incel ideology or in contact with someone who is, and therefore it may come out in conversation or through actions and behaviour. Staff who are delivering PSHE/RSHE sessions will want to be more familiar with this territory and understanding of the themes, language and terminology in this article to have greater awareness.
- The PSHE curriculum provides lots of opportunity to explore the issues around incel culture, without approaching this in a way that creates a focus on individuals or any sense that this is a life choice. Promotion of British Values which include the role of democracy, the rule of law, the right to individual liberty along with respect and tolerance of those around you who may have different views and beliefs creates debate around rights and attitudes – the same Hope not Hate report referred to earlier identified that half of young men surveyed held the view that feminism had gone too far, and that their views can be justification for violence if there is a need to defend those beliefs. As learners get older there will be more scope for discussing viewpoints, however the promotion of these values begins at a very early age. The Disrespect NoBody materials produced by the Home Office are useful tools although do not address incel ideology directly. The DSL will be engaged with staff delivering this curriculum and where concerns arise for an individual should take a lead in exploring these further.
- Understanding the culture, groups and cliques that exist within your setting. What is it that brings young people together, where are the 'echo chambers' where discriminatory views are more safely shared and reinforced, how inclusive is your community? There is no substitute for knowing your learners. As with all safeguarding encourage staff to share their lower level concerns at an early stage to improve the effectiveness of your interventions.
- Continuing understanding of what learners are accessing online – young people transition easily between offline and online groups. Whilst the forums and Reddit channels that those adopting the incel ideology utilise may not be easily accessible to all, the structure of the internet means that there are a number of websites and forums that form the “manosphere” and are often more easily accessible, whether deliberately or by accident. We are never likely to be in a position where we can monitor everything that the children and young people in our setting do, however promoting safe use and a culture of openness will allow for a far greater insight into what is being accessed.
- Ensuring that children with additional needs are supported. As we saw earlier in this insight, many of those following the incel ideology report having additional needs when younger which appear to have been unsupported but which had a significant impact on their emotional development and perceived place in society. This has then developed into feelings of ostracisation and rejection by others, which further compounds their worldview.
| Terminology As mentioned throughout this insight, there are slang words which are associated with incel ideology. Some more common ones are below (adapted from Incels: A Guide to Symbols and Terminology, 2020):
|
