Incel is an acronym of the English expression involuntary celibate. The term was coined in 1997 by a Canadian student named Alana, who created the Involuntary Celibate Project: a community support space for people—regardless of gender—experiencing loneliness, difficulties in forming sexual-affective relationships, and a lack of social recognition.
Over time, however, this concept has been appropriated and radically transformed by online communities, mainly composed of heterosexual men who define themselves as “involuntary celibates” and have developed their own subculture within the so-called manosphere. Through forums and digital platforms, this movement has evolved into a space of radicalization that spreads misogynistic, antifeminist, and LGBTIQ+-phobic ideologies, and often promotes violence. Women, in particular, are dehumanized and blamed for the lack of sexual-affective interactions experienced by members of this group, alongside other men perceived as sexually successful.
Incel ideology has become one of the most visible currents within the digital ecosystem of the supremacist, misogynist, and antifeminist far right and has been linked to various cases of violent attacks motivated by gender-based hatred. The spread of this discourse through social media has contributed to normalizing and disseminating narratives of hate, especially among young audiences vulnerable to processes of radicalization.
Romanos, Andrea (2025) «Els incels: quan la frustració masculina es converteix en odi», UOC News. 9 April.