Involuntarily Celibate Men: Gender and Vulnerability in Times of Precarious Love

The project investigates how various groups of heterosexual men conceptualize and deal with experiences of involuntary celibacy, and what role conceptions of gender, sex, love and male vulnerability play when they make sense of their position in heterosexual intimacy. Through a study of online forums, interviews and a survey, the project investigates both the online ‘incel’ community, known for nourishing misogynist, pro-violence attitudes, and the everyday experiences of a broader segment of the heterosexual male population with experiences of involuntary celibacy. Theoretically the project contributes to debates about recent transformations of the gendered conditions of intimacy and to conceptualizations of men’s experiences of vulnerability in a general context marked by male privilege.