Subcultural Hierarchy and Policing amongst Incels in Online Forums

Christian A. I. Schlaerth; Aaron Puhrmann; Elaine Bossard; Rachel Setting

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.20.2.01

Authors

Christian A. I. Schlaerth Waldorf University, USA
Aaron Puhrmann Grand View University, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0408-8310
Elaine Bossard Waldorf University, USA
Rachel Setting University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1562-6035

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.20.2.01

Keywords:

Incels, Culture, Qualitative Sociology, Online Research

Abstract

While investigations into incels online have increased, most have focused on their potential for violence, their misogyny, extremist ideologies, and their mental health. Very little has been devoted to examining the nuances of that subcultural group. The research in this paper examines the hierarchy that has been established within the incel subculture, online, and how that hierarchy is policed using various mechanisms such as reporting “fakecels” to the moderators to have them banned and insults. Findings show that there are clear hierarchical delineations of incels in general, with “blackpill” incels being the most extreme in their worldview and their use of science (albeit cherry-picked) to justify the incel ideology. The researchers also found that there is a hierarchy specific to the online forum from which data were gathered. The paper concludes that understanding incel subculture is salient in addressing the potential threats of violence and treating those individuals who no longer want to identify as incels. Future directions of research would be to examine why boys and men identify as incels.

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Author Biographies

Christian A. I. Schlaerth, Waldorf University, USA

Dr. Christian A. I. Schlaerth is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology at Waldorf University, where he currently serves as the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department. His work has been published in several national and international journals, and he has several book chapters that span the areas of education, labor, politics, and inequality, amongst others.
Aaron Puhrmann, Grand View University, USA

Dr. Aaron Puhrmann is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice and chair of the Department of Sociology at Grand View University. His research interests lie in the relationships between gender and crime, but he maintains broad interests in disparities and inequalities in the criminal justice system, especially regarding both racial profiling and migration. He has written on subjects pertaining to drug courts, robbery, and immigration.
Elaine Bossard, Waldorf University, USA

Dr. Elaine Bossard is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Waldorf University, where she currently serves as the Chair of the Psychology Department.
Rachel Setting, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, USA

Ms. Rachel Setting earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Waldorf University in 2021. She currently works as a Research Assistant at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

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