The Incel Rebellion: The Rise of the Manosphere and the Virtual War Against Women

by Lisa Sugiura

Overview

The ebook edition of this title is Open Access, thanks to Knowledge Unlatched funding, and freely available to read online.

Emerging alongside the progression of women's rights in the twenty-first century is the development of the men's rights movement, parts of which have culminated into the contemporary 'manosphere.' Consisting of online communities that ascribe to misogynistic ideologies, which objectify, disparage, and dehumanise women, the manosphere also houses those who identify as involuntary celibate (incel).

Drawing on ethnographic research and interviews, this book provides an original and timely insight into the development of the manosphere, how and why people join and self-identify as incel, the extent to which the influence and philosophy of incel and the incelsphere draws on and is penetrating mainstream culture and political discourse, and its harmful impact.

The Incel Rebellion is essential reading for a broad range of practitioners and scholars across criminology, sociology, terrorism studies, gender, media and cultural studies, and politics, as well as expanding the field of cybercrime research and beyond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781839822575
Publisher:	Emerald Publishing Limited
Publication date:	11/05/2021
Series:	Emerald Studies In Digital Crime, Technology and Social Harms
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.35(d)

About the Author

Lisa Sugiura is Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Cybercrime at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Portsmouth, UK. She has an interdisciplinary international research track record on, and expertise in, online deviance, and technology-facilitated sexual abuse and violence. She has published on topics including the online pharmaceutical trade, phishing, online research ethics, rape culture online, and is the author of Respectable Deviance and Purchasing Medicine Online: Opportunities and Risks for Consumers.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. An Introduction to Incel
Chapter 2. The Emergence and Development of the Manosphere
Chapter 3. Join the Incel Rebellion
Chapter 4. Weirdos or Extremists?
Chapter 5. Legitimising Misogyny
Chapter 6. Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

Drawing on extensive empirical research and a masterful use of socio-criminological understanding, Dr Sugiura's new book offers an incisive and timely analysis of the realities and the threats of the incel community. I hope this book will soon become a key reference point for anyone with an interest in the relationship between misogynistic ideologies and the wider socio-political climate, online harms, and qualitative digital research approaches.

Dr Anita Lavorgna

In Incel Rebellion Lisa Sugiura provides a rare empirical insight into the subcultures and practices of incel communities in the manosphere. The result is a compelling and innovative account of how some men find their way into incel communities, as well as the links between such spaces and wider misogyny in our increasingly digital society. This book is an outstanding contribution to the field of digital criminology and will be an essential resource for those studying cybercrime and other online harms.

Anastasia Powell

The Incel Rebellion: The Rise of the Manosphere and the Virtual War Against Women is an extremely timely and brilliant exploration of a pressing and immediate area of concern; one that has direct implications for safety, security, policy, and the general moral health of society. Cutting across various disciplines, including gender studies, criminology, and terrorism studies, Dr Sugiura masterfully navigates a number of important and complex considerations, including why people self-identify as incels, and what motivates them to join these types of communities. The jewel in the crown is the author's collection and use of qualitative interviews with current and former incels. As far as I'm aware, this is the first empirical academic study of its kind, and the rich data brings this fascinating area of research alive. This book is an absolute must for anyone interested in this topic and should form part of the foundation for any future work.

Dr Suraj Lakhani Lecturer in Criminology and Sociology

Sugiura's Incel Rebellion is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the history and ideology around the Incel community. In a time where male supremacy is becoming an increasing security concern, Sugiura expertly details the links existing between the so-called 'manosphere', white supremacy, and the mainstream political arena. In addition to providing a stellar account of the history of male supremacism, Sugiura reflects on the methodological and ethical issues that come from being a woman studying misogyny, an account that will no doubt be extremely valuable for future researchers wishing to conduct similar studies. Most importantly, this book provides clear evidence that extreme misogyny is not just a problem for the fringe, but rather has crept into the mainstream infecting the normative culture of our western societies.

Ashton Kingdon - Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right