Recognition
According to the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) atMotivations
Misogyny is common among mass killers, even among those who kill for other reasons. The following are specifically misogynist motivations that have been given as primary reasons for indiscriminate mass killings.Problems which men face in the modern world
Laura Bates writes that real problems and insecurities faced by young mensuch as workplace injuries, cancer, and suicidecan be co-opted by organized online extremist groups. These groups present masculine strength, a lack of vulnerability, a lack of emotion, and other stereotypes of masculinity as solutions to these problems, although, she writes, these stereotypes actually cause or exacerbate the problems they claim to solve. Bates says that this ideological grooming can lead to calls for mass violence against women and that when this occurs, it should be categorized as terrorism. Laurie Penny writes that, like other forms of violent extremism, misogynist extremism "promises the lost and despairing that they will have the respect and sense of purpose they have always longed for, if they only hate hard enough."Sexual and romantic entitlement
Mass murderers, in some cases identifying as incels, have described being motivated by a perception of entitlement to sex or companionship with women, a desire to seek vengeance for the perception of being rejected by women, and a drive to put women "in their place." For example, in the 2014 Isla Vista attack, the perpetrator set out to "punish all females for the crime of depriving me of sex." Incel ideology has been a contributing factor to 90 fatalities and injuries since this attack, as of early 2020. Feminist writer Jessica Valenti argues that such incels should be viewed as misogynist terrorists and warns that they are being radicalized online. Sexual entitlement, alone, has been a primary motivator for acts of terror. The ICCT has found that anti-feminist conspiracy theories are typically combined with other far-right ideologies in motivating terrorists; however, sexual entitlement may be a motivation that stands by itself.Male supremacism
In some attacks or threats of terrorism, the perpetrator has described a desire to reinforce male superiority in a sexual hierarchy by preventing women from being recognized for their work or tolerated in leadership positions. For example, feminist video game critic Anita Sarkeesian received threats of mass shooting and bombing unless a ceremony in which she was to be given an award were canceled. The ICCT argues that the Hanau terrorist attack should be understood as motivated by male supremacism, despite the perpetrator sharing some beliefs of incels.Proving manhood
Valenti writes that some misogynist terrorists have been motivated by a desire to live up to the stereotype that "real men" are powerful. Incel beliefs can include an abhorrence of men who are perceived as sexually successful with women. Male victims of misogynist violence have been targeted because of a desperation to assert superiority over these men.Causing fear
As is typical of terrorism, these acts are intended to cause widespread fear. Any woman may reasonably be unsettled about the potential of being targeted, notes philosopher Kate Manne, because often victims of these killings are treated as essentially interchangeable. Women are targeted merely because they fit a certain type rather than because they have any particular relationship to the killer. Misogyny need not mean hostility to women universally, or even very generally. Instead, misogynist terrorists often express a desire to target women of a particular type, either as revenge for perceived slights or because of a perceived connection between the targeted women andResponses
Like other forms of terrorism, misogynist extremist violence is intended to make a political statement. However, political responses to this form of terrorism have been less proactive than the governmental response to Islamic terrorism and other forms of terrorism. Counter-terrorist response is complicated by cultural attitudes toward misogynist crimes in general. Such crimes tend to be viewed as a "private issue" rather than a proper political subject. Further, because incel attacks sometimes target both men and women indiscriminately, the gender-based motivation of these attacks has been difficult to recognize.Prosecutions
Christopher Cleary pled guilty to a charge of attempted threat of terrorism for an attack he planned against the 2019 Women's March rally inMitigation
Writers at the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism note that acts of misogynist mass violence can be placed on a continuum with intimate partner abuse, stalking, and other gender-based harassment and violence. They recommend addressing misogynist terrorism with the same approaches applied to these other problems, such as with domestic abuse perpetrator intervention programs. Australian researchers have recommended securitisation of incel ideology, as has been done for other ideologies that animate terrorism. Jessica Valenti recommends thatList of incidents
*1984 Cleveland Public Library shooting *1989 École Polytechnique massacre *1991 Luby's shooting * 2009 Collier Township shooting * 2014 Isla Vista killings *2014–2015 Portsmouth knife attacks * 2015 Umpqua Community College shooting *2018 Toronto van attack *2018 systematic shooting of female drivers in Texas * 2018 Tallahassee shooting *2020 Toronto machete attack *2020 Glendale Westgate Entertainment District shootingSee also
* Domestic violence * Boko Haram * Femicide * Honor killings * Incel * Manosphere * Taliban * Violence against womenNotes
References
Further reading
* * * {{Terrorism topics Chauvinism Special-interest terrorism Violence against women