The term "incel" is in itself misogynistic

VisceralSardonic · 2025-02-24T15:29:28+00:00

I don’t necessarily disagree for the original purpose and definition of the word. The “involuntary celibate” movement was originally self-titled and self-identified by people who wanted to rise up against those who made them celibate against their own wills.

Nowadays, most people have stopped using it for that definition entirely. “Incel” used by almost anyone these days, means “violently anti-woman social outcast who blames women and sometimes socially healthy men for his own troubles.” That can correspond with someone who’s celibate, but I hear the term used most to describe people like Andrew Tate.

I think the terminology needs to change for the movement to take hold with more people though, because you’re right. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with people who struggle to find a partner or interact with women. I can’t say the same about men who are violently anti-woman.

Codeofconduct · 2025-02-24T15:26:04+00:00

No it isn't. It was originally a term coined by a straight woman. Incel wasn't a gendered term only for men. Furthermore, incel was a label one gave oneself.

The misogynistic incel community altered the community into the misogynistic movement that we know today, which exists only to grip into and radicalize sad and lonely people. The incel community as it exists now is horrible and disgusting, so I agree it's a harmful label for someone to have on them now regardless of their gender.

WaffleConeDX · 2025-02-24T15:18:40+00:00

Are you saying calling someone an incel is misogynistic or calling yourself an incel is being misogynistic?

mikey_weasel · 2025-02-24T15:37:59+00:00

Hey are we discussing definitions of incel again?

The word "Incel" has its original meaning and current meaning:

The Technical (original) definition of an INvoluntary CELIbate person. Which is how it started (The REPLY-ALL Podcast episode INVCEL has a good interview with the founder).
The current meaning which is more of a cultural group, which is where someone has absolutely bought into the "blackpill" of incel ideology/thought/facts/worldview/whatever. Like simply check out the Wikipedia article for incel. Or check out articles like this one from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

For a lot of people (2) is MUCH more relevant than (1). Even if there is some overlap between the two

LolaBijou · 2025-02-24T15:40:15+00:00

Celibacy refers to both genders. Nuns are celibate. Priests are celibate.

growupchamp · 2025-02-24T15:42:54+00:00

no child, it implies that one cant see women as humans and equals. incels cant even interact with women because they cant even see them as people. not being able to sleep with them is more of a consequence and it turns into a feedback loop. an incel isnt attractive to the opposite sex, even as a friend because they cant see women as people and friends. i cant break this down further than this, it really should be obvious

xvszero · 2025-02-24T16:00:44+00:00

I'd agree that calling people incels is problematic. I was a virgin until 30 and it sucked getting attacked for that,

Many of them adopt this term for themselves though.

Yamureska · 2025-02-24T17:35:04+00:00

Incels call themselves that lol.

ooa3603 · 2025-02-24T15:46:13+00:00

There are words, there are their meanings, and then there are the different contexts words are used that change their meanings.

Incel at its core means that you're involuntary celibate - you don't have sex for reasons outside your control.

Those reasons could be anything from: you're literally mentally or physically disabled, to you are in an environment with very few possible sexual mates, to you have poor social skills so others are not choosing to be with you, to numerous other reasons.

Now the context in which a lot of people use the word can change the meaning of the word to something else, but that's not on the word.

Thats on the people using it that way.

Nowhere does the word imply who or what type of person anyone should or shouldn't be having sex. The term covers a lot of different people with different reasons for not getting opportunities to having sex, for example, a gay person can be an incel. A person who has a great social life with their friends can still be an incel (because they are disabled). Just because you're only familiar with the common context of incel meaning a social outcast, doesn't mean that the word innately makes any misogynistic or otherwise implications.

People are making those implications, not the word.

Their use of incel as an insult is negative yes, and can be misogynistic, but again that's not on the word, but on the attitudes of the people and culture using it that way.

My point is that the implication is coming from people and culture, not the word and if it wasn't this word, it'd be another one. Until the culture is dealt with, we'll be running around chasing our tails for the implications behind the word of the day.

Duarte-1984 · 2025-03-24T08:28:41+00:00

The terms "incel" and "volcel" are absurd, as they are misrepresentations of what celibacy originally represents. When a man says that, I already know he's an asshole.

Not being able to be attractive is normal, refusing to have a sexually active life by avoiding women is also viable, but the speeches of both "incel" and "volcel" are horrible to read and hear.

TheButcher797 · 2025-02-24T15:36:44+00:00

This is true but the people here wont say it is.

Title	The term "incel" is in itself misogynistic
Author	KitchenRevenue4042
Upvotes	0
Comments	22
Date	February 24, 2025 3:15 PM UTC (1 year ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/ExRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/exredpill/comments/1ix4crj/the_term_incel_is_in_itself_misogynistic/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/ExRedPill/the-term-incel-is-in-itself-misogynistic.1544824 https://theredarchive.com/post/1544824

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