Incels vs. Femcels: Dissecting the Gendered Realities of Involuntary Celibacy

The aim of this research is to conduct a comparative analysis between two web subcultures: Incels (male involuntary celibates) and Femcels (female involuntary celibates), both marked by a radical view of social reality and strong feelings of envy, anger, and resentment toward the opposite sex. Focusing on the /r9k/ (Incels) and Crystal.cafe (Femcels) imageboards, it examines how derogatory language fosters group identity and homophilic networks, fueling emotional polarization. Through Digital Media Ethnography, we investigate how these dynamics unfold, exploring whether such interactions deepen exclusion and resentment, with potential implications for real-world social relations.