Draft:Involuntary celibacy
Involuntary celibacy is the belief that an individual is unable to obtain romantic or sexual relationships despite desiring them, due to perceived unattractive traits, particularly regarding physical attractiveness or social ineptitude. The term is not considered a scientific or medically diagnosable condition, though believers frame celibacy as an externally imposed circumstance, rather than a voluntary lifestyle choice, defined by an unwanted state of sexual abstinence.
The concept was first coined by a French clergyman called Antoine Banier in 1793, who argued that the dowry customs of Ancient Greece were superior to those of his day, which he saw as unnecessarily harsh on unmarried women and their families, originally describing it as a "yoke of involuntary celibacy". The term was later used by far-left Marxist and fluxus artist Henry Flynt in his 1975 manifesto "Blueprint for a Higher Civilization," as a description for Flynt's "Creep Theory" in the book, which was also the first time the concept was made in reference to male involuntary celibacy. [1]
Around 1997, the term was shortened to "invcel" by a queer Canadian female student known as Alana, with the spelling shifting to "incel" in 1999, the term later grew into its own subculture that rose to prominence in the 2010s, which became influenced and associated with misogynistic terrorists such as Elliot Rodger and Alek Minassian.[2][3] The term "voluntary celibacy", which was later shortened to "volcel", emerged around the same time in reference to individuals who choose to practice sexual abstinence.[4]
History
[edit]1790s-1900s
[edit]Origins
[edit]
The term "involuntary celibate" was originally coined by a French clergyman called Antoine Banier in 1793, the term was used in reference to female involuntary celibacy in the book The Mythology and Fables of the Ancients, Explain'd from History, Volume 3, Banier stated[5]:
The custom of the Ancients in their marriages was quite different from that of the age wherein we live: large gratifications were given to the young ladies whom they were to marry, and even to their parents, whereas it is very rare now-a-days for one to marry a woman without a portion. Homer and several others, mention this Custom, and would to God it were still in Fashion: How many young Women who groan under the Yoke of involuntary Celibacy, would find Husbands to make them happy, did not the Avarice of those husbands reduce them to the calamities wherein ixion was involved.
Banier argued that the dowry customs of Ancient Greece were superior to those of his day. He viewed the dowry customs of his day as unnecessarily harsh on unmarried women and their families.
1910s-1980s
[edit]The term was then later used by Far-left Marxist and fluxus artist Henry Flynt in his 1975 manifesto "Blueprint for a Higher Civilization".
1990s-2000s
[edit]https://cjc.utppublishing.com/doi/pdf/10.3138/cjc.2022-07-25
https://www.vasulka.org/archive/Artists2/Flint/Blueprint.pdf
[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
Male involuntary celibacy
[edit]Female involuntary celibacy
[edit]See also
[edit]- Sexual frustration
- Incel
- Red pill and blue pill
- Manosphere
- Biological determinism
- Blackpilled
- NEET
- Looksmaxxing
References
[edit]- ^ Burton, Anthony G. (29 August 2022). "Blackpill Science: Involuntary Celibacy, Rational Technique, and Economic Existence under Neoliberalism". Canadian Journal of Communication. 47 (4): 676–701. doi:10.3138/cjc.2022-07-25. ISSN 0705-3657.
- ^ "The woman who founded the 'incel' movement". BBC News. 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ a b Williams, Zoe (2022-10-20). "Involuntary celibacy is a genuine problem, but a 'right to sex' is not the answer". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ Saner, Emine (2023-04-26). "The rise of voluntary celibacy: 'Most of the sex I've had, I wish I hadn't bothered'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ Antoine), Banier (M l'abbé (1739). The Mythology and Fables of the Ancients, Explain'd from History. A. Millar.
- ^ Blalock, Kay J. (2001). "Celibacy". In Hawes, Joseph M.; Shores, Elizabeth F. (eds.). The Family in America: An Encyclopedia, Volume 2. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 131–132. ISBN 1576072320. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
- ^ Moldrup, Benjamin H. B. (19 August 2022). "Hidden Tragedies of the Self: the Stalemate of Involuntary Celibacy". Human Arenas. 7: 156–165. doi:10.1007/s42087-021-00263-6. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Czerwinsky, Alyssa. "Beyond The 'Incel Attacker': Media Reporting on Cases of Misogynist Violence". Homeland Security News Wire. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ Elizabeth Abbot (2001). "Coerced Celibacy: Involuntary Celibacy". A History of Celibacy. New York: Da Capo Press. pp. 303–337. ISBN 0-306-81041-7.
- ^ Donnelly, Denise; Burgess, Elisabeth; Anderson, Sally; Curry, Robert; Dillard, John (2001). "Involuntary celibacy: A life course analysis". Journal of Sex Research. 38 (2): 159–169. JSTOR 3813706.
- ^ Donnelly, Denise; Burgess, Elisabeth (2008). "The decision to remain in an involuntarily celibate relationship". Journal of Marriage and Family. 70 (2): 519–535. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2008.00498.x.
- ^ Donnelly, Denise; Burgess, Elisabeth; Anderson, Sally (2005). Readings in Family Theory. SAGE. pp. 14–. ISBN 978-1-4129-0570-1.
- ^ Bouchez, Colette. "Sexless in The City". WebMD. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Lehmiller, Justin (2023). The Psychology of Human Sexuality (third ed.). Wiley. p. 205. ISBN 9781119883975. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Himawan, Karel (2020). "The Single's Struggle: Discovering Involuntary Singleness in Indonesia Through Gender and Religious Perspectives". The Family Journal. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Kiernan, K.E. (1988). "Who Remains Celibate?". Journal of Biosocial Science. doi:10.1017/S0021932000006593. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ Robinson, Maxwell (2020). ""A Short Story of a Lonely Guy": A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Involuntary Celibacy Using Reddit". Sexuality & Culture. doi:10.1007/s12119-020-09724-6. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ Stein, P. J. (1978). "The Lifestyles and Life Chances of the Never-Married". Marriage & Family Review. doi:10.1300/j002v01n04_01. Retrieved 18 May 2024.