Why Does ‘Incels’ Default to Men? Gender, Agency, and Hate Speech in Femcel Discourse

This study examines gendered patterns of hate speech in Femcel discourse using a corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis. Applying Bahador’s hate speech intensity model (2023), it explores how Femcels linguistically represent men and women across five categories: negative characterisation, negative action, dehumanisation, violence, and death. Quantitative results show that men are overwhelmingly depicted as agentive perpetrators while women appear primarily as targets. Qualitative analysis reveals a mix of Femcels’ outward hostility towards men and internalised negativity, especially in self-representations and evaluations of socially dominant women. These findings highlight a complex affective dynamic: masculinity is framed through agency and blame, while femininity is associated with vulnerability, invisibility, and selective agency. The study argues that Femcel discourse is not merely an inversion of Incel ideology but also reflects distinct gendered patterns of desire, visibility, and power in online spaces.