The content below was summarized and written by ChatGPT. No need for me to interject opinion into the facts – even ChatGPT’s equivocation doesn’t hide what is true. Supporting documents, if available, are provided as downloadable PDFs, and URLs for primary web sources have been linked, when known.

Internet & porn culture contributes to violence against women

The objectification of women has been influenced by social media and the rise of incel culture in several ways:

1. Increased Exposure and Accessibility: Social media platforms have made it easier for individuals to access and share images and videos that objectify women. This has contributed to the normalization of objectification and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.

2. Pressure to Conform to Beauty Standards: Social media often promotes unrealistic beauty standards, which can contribute to the objectification of women. This pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

3. Online Harassment and Misogyny: The rise of incel culture has led to an increase in online harassment and misogyny directed towards women. This can include derogatory comments, threats, and the spread of harmful stereotypes.

4. Impact on Mental Health: Exposure to objectification and online harassment can have a negative impact on women’s mental health, contributing to feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

5. Normalization of Objectification: The normalization of objectification on social media and in incel culture can contribute to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and attitudes towards women.

6. Objectification and Violence: Research has shown that the objectification of women can contribute to a culture of violence against women. This can include sexual harassment, assault, and other forms of violence.

It’s important to recognize the impact that social media and incel culture can have on the objectification of women and to work towards promoting healthy and respectful attitudes towards women. This includes challenging harmful stereotypes, promoting positive representations of women, and fostering a culture of respect and equality.

Sex Roles (2007) 56:381–395 DOI 10.1007/s11199-006-9176-y

This is an excerpt from the excellent article on incel culture and its introgression into the mainstream disguised as a review of the film “Don’t Worry Darling” by Erin Cobby, senior editor at shado magazine. Link to the article below. Go read the whole thing.

“Once language is used by politicians, it can easily spread into the mainstream, with people not aligned with incels groups mimicking their language, like this tweet referencing the ‘chad’ [an incel term for a ‘hot’ guy that women want to sleep with] and virgin meme.

I contacted Aja for a comment on this. They explain, “Mainstream creative media now unironically references things like getting ‘cucked’ [cuckolded] for example. On one hand, decontextualising MRA (Men’s Rights Activist) language arguably weakens the power of those ideas to shock and impact us and weakens the connective tissue of inceldom as a subculture. On the other hand, the mainstreaming of this culture helps shift the overton window on what is acceptable behaviour and thought. And when we’re talking about extremist misogyny, that’s of course very dangerous.”

Speaking to Aja reinforces how important it is for us to remember that incel ideals and rhetoric are not only found on hard to reach subreddits. They’re all over Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. And as Aja points out, this isn’t a sign that this language is harmless and should be accepted, but rather it points to how widespread this issue is already and how it should be treated as such. “

Cobby 2022 shado.com

In the early 2000s, the internet revolutionized the way people consume pornography. With the rise of streaming platforms and social media, adult content became more accessible than ever before. This led to a proliferation of pornography that often depicted women in a hypersexualized and objectified manner.

As social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter gained popularity, the objectification of women became more pervasive. Influencers and celebrities often posted highly curated and sexualized images, perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards and creating a culture of comparison and competition.

At the same time, a subculture known as “incels” (short for “involuntary celibates”) began to emerge. Incels were predominantly heterosexual men who felt unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one. Many incels harbored deep-seated resentment and anger towards women, whom they blamed for their inability to find a partner.

The rise of incel culture was fueled by online forums and communities where members shared their experiences, frustrations, and beliefs. These communities often became echo chambers, reinforcing and amplifying misogynistic attitudes.

As incel culture grew, so did concerns about the potential for violence. Some incels expressed violent and extremist beliefs, advocating for violence against women or society as a whole. This led to several high-profile incidents, including the 2014 Isla Vista killings and the 2018 Toronto van attack.

The interplay between the predominant themes in pornography, the rise of social media objectification of women, and the rise of incel culture and violence created a toxic environment that perpetuated harmful stereotypes and attitudes towards women. It also highlighted the need for greater awareness and understanding of the complex factors that contribute to the objectification of women and the rise of incel culture.

Tranchese & Suguira. Violence Against Women

2021, Vol. 27(14) 2709–2734

van der Veer 2020 ICCT

Valentino-Devries & Keller 2024 NYT

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