Weaponized Subordination: How Incels Discredit Themselves to Degrade Women

The blackpill ideology blames feminism for granting women too much autonomy, leading to high standards whereby women would rather remain single than accept an unattractive partner.

“The blackpill further blames feminism for granting women too much autonomy, leading to high standards whereby women would rather remain single than accept an unattractive partner.”

The blackpill ideology suggests that any individual improvement is futile and that incels should accept their low-status position.

“Since the blackpill ideology attributes incels' low status to immutable characteristics, it suggests that any individual improvement is futile and that incels should accept their low-status position [9-11].”

The blackpill ideology posits that incels' low status is due to immutable features, primarily related to physical appearance, neurodivergence, etc.

“This ideology posits that incels' low status is due to immutable features, primarily related to physical appearance, neurodivergence, etc.”

Research on incel communities indicates that they believe feminism and women's rights movements have led to a loss of male dominance and have "unfairly" prevented men from their "entitled" access to women's bodies.

“Research on incel communities indicates that they believe feminism and women's rights movements have led to a loss of male dominance and have “unfairly” prevented men from their “entitled” access to women's bodies (Baele et al., 2019; Halpin, 2022; Halpin et al., 2023; O’Donnell & Shor, 2022).”

Incels view sexualized violence as a means to maintain a patriarchal gender order, even if incels themselves are relegated to occupying a subordinate position within that order.

“we will demonstrate that incels view sexualized violence as a means to maintain a patriarchal gender order, even if incels themselves are relegated to occupying a subordinate position within that order (Halpin, 2022).”

Men's performance of gender might involve both the selective distancing from and celebration of the subjugation of women, depending on their potential audiences.

“Accordingly, men's performance of gender might involve both the selective distancing from (Bridges & Pascoe, 2014; Halpin, 2022) and celebration of the subjugation of women, depending on their potential audiences (e.g., women or other men).”

In previous work (Halpin, 2022), the authors argue that incels weaponize subordinate masculinity by positioning themselves as victims and "failed men" to justify both interpersonal and systemic violence against women.

“Likewise, in our previous work (Halpin, 2022), we argue that incels weaponize subordinate masculinity by positioning themselves as victims and “failed men” to justify both interpersonal and systemic violence against women.”

Incels endorse a "black pill" ideology, which asserts that women's mating preferences are biologically fixed, that women pursue the most physically attractive men, and that average-looking and unattractive men have no hope of establishing a heterosexual relationship.

“In addition to a “red pill” ideology, incels endorse a “black pill” ideology (e.g., Halpin, 2022; Solea & Sugiura, 2023), which asserts that women's mating preferences are biologically fixed, that women pursue the most physically attractive men, and that average-looking and unattractive men have no hope of establishing a heterosexual relationship.”

Incels position themselves as both victims and aggressors in their discussions of gender-based violence.

“Building on hybrid masculinity research and our previous work that demonstrates how incels weaponize performances of subordinate masculinity to legitimate male supremacy (Halpin, 2022), we argue that incels position themselves as both victims and aggressors in their discussions of gender-based violence.”

Incels' self-perceived victimization is a resource in their advocacy for stochastic gender-based violence.

“Incels’ self-perceived victimization (Halpin, 2022) is a resource in their advocacy for stochastic gender-based violence.”

Through hybrid masculine practice incels weaponise their subordination, using their perceived inferior status to justify their misogyny.

“Supporting Ging's position, Halpin's (2022) study demonstrates how through hybrid masculine practice incels weaponise their subordination, using their perceived inferior status to justify their misogyny.”