Men can be effectively mobilized by appealing to their sense of masculinity; this is how the "incel" ideology is gaining influence across Europe

Monday, Nov 17, 2025

New waves of violence against women and incel subculture rise globally, showing online radicalization risks.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

France is facing new scandals involving violence against women, following the unresolved Pélicot case. While the Pélicot case brought attention to violence against women and solidarity with victims, a newer issue has emerged focusing on younger generations. A 19-year-old man named Timoty G. was arrested in July for allegedly preparing acts of terror targeting women, having been found with two knives at his school. Despite initial descriptions by prosecutors and the defense lawyer suggesting he might be a victim, evidence indicates that Timoty G. promoted online content advocating for violence against women, marking the first case in France involving someone from the “incel subculture.” The term “incel” refers to men who live celibately due to compulsion, often associated with far-right movements promoting radical misogyny and legitimizing violence against women. Sociologist Francis Dupuis-Déri warns that incel ideology is dangerous because it reduces women solely to sexual objects whose satisfaction is seen as an unlimited goal. The phenomenon has global examples, such as the 2014 mass shooting in Santa Barbara by Elliot Roger, who was influenced by similar ideologies. Experts note that these violent acts are becoming more organized and radicalized online. Political groups like Vox use incel slang to mobilize young male voters by framing modern society as threatening their masculinity. Ideological researchers suggest incel theories resemble racial theories, establishing hierarchies based on appearance and justifying violence against those deemed “lower class.” The article also mentions fictional portrayals of these themes in theater and real-life incidents in Italy where men killed partners or acquaintances who were perceived as too happy, often linked to the perpetrators’ own feelings of loneliness. Sociologists emphasize that online spaces amplify offline violence, urging serious consideration of all threatening messages.


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