Safeguarding: The Involuntary Celibate 'Incel' Movement and the Potential Impact on our Young People

The Impact it has on Our Young People

What has this got to do with young people?

Many are concerned that young people may hear “incel” and innocently start to research it. This could lead to them being drawn into worrying online groups.

The pandemic has caused many young people to spend a lot more time online. They may have been given enhanced access to online resources, e.g., throughout the school day, using platforms such as Zoom or Teams and more access to cameras.

There is worry that involvement with the incel movement can be a form of extremism. Research shows that currently the most common form of extremism is right-wing extremism. It can be argued that the incel movement has similarities with some extreme right-wing ideas such as the use of violence.

Incel is not a topic that all school staff or parents would have heard of and there is no need to exaggerate the risk at this point. But it can only be helpful for DSLs and other school leaders to familiarise themselves with the movement and its indicators of involvement.

Polls

*Correct Answer: 2

'Red Flags' and What to Look For

• Degrading language referencing women in written work, conversation, and artwork.
• The use of certain language and key terms commonly used by incels:
  •  “Chad”- attractive, sexually active male
  • “Becky”- average woman
  • “Stacey”- attractive, sexually active female
  • “Femoid” or “foid”- dehumanising and vulgar term for a female
  • “AWALT”- ‘all women are like that’
  • “Black Pill”-an incel who has "taken the black pill" has adopted the belief that they are hopeless, and that their lack of success romantically and sexually is permanent regardless of any changes they might try to make.
• Conspiracy theories
• Change in internet behaviour e.g. spending more time online chatting to strangers, hiding screens, and being secretive.
• Suddenly forms a group of new friends.
• The incel movement may be particularly attractive to those who are socially excluded and struggle to maintain friendships, therefore turning to online “friends” for support.
• General signs of radicalisation and remembering that not all radicalisation takes place online.

Practical Steps and Actions Schools Can Take

1. Do your research so you can be confident in your understanding of the incel movement.

2. Consider who else needs to be informed about the incel movement?

   • This could be pastoral staff, PSHE teachers, parents?

• • Does this need to be mentioned in policies or staff training?

3. Use filtering and monitoring systems to check if children are searching for incel terms at school.

4. Educate - You may feel that children do not yet need to be taught about incels, but do they know generally how to recognise where there is a complete absence of informed debate?

5. Know your local procedures for escalating concerns about potential involvement with the incel movement.

6. Send the right message to students when discussing the topic on 'incel' or radicalisation.
   
   • Students who have fallen victim of radicalisation may not wish to share what has happened due to fear or shame.
   • Remind students of the safe spaces they can go to tell a teacher or member of staff their story without judgement

Our Head of Safeguarding, Hannah Glossop, recently wrote about the incel movement here:  https://www.sec-ed.co.uk/best-practice/be-vigilant-for-signs-of-incel-culture-prevent-terrorism-radicalisation-safeguarding-child-protection-wellbeing-mental-health/

Safer Internet Day (February 8th): https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2022

Teaching Online Safety in Schools: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools

BBC Reggie Yates’ Documentary ‘Britain’s Anti-Feminist Movement: Men at War’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP9ucyoJraQ

Judicium Education’s Safeguarding Service is intended to assist schools in meeting the statutory requirements and guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment. For more information, please visit: https://www.judiciumeducation.co.uk/safeguarding-service

The Safeguarding Service is also providing CPD accredited open training courses for DSLs. For more information or to book, please visit here.

If you require any support in any of these steps or would like to talk to someone surrounding some support for your school, please do not hesitate to call us on 0845 459 2130 or email tara.jones@judicium.com.

If you’d like to review Judicium’s forthcoming sofa sessions please click here