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Cancel culture is a cultural phenomenon in which an individual thought to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner is ostracized, boycotted, shunned, fired or assaulted, often aided by social media.[1][2][3][4] This shunning may extend to social or professional circles—whether on social media or in person—with most high-profile incidents involving celebrities.[5] Those subject to this ostracism are said to have been "canceled".[6][7][a]
The term "cancel culture" came into circulation in the late 2010s and early 2020s and has mostly negative connotations.[7] The term "call-out culture" is used by some for the same concept.
Some critics argue that cancel culture has a chilling effect on public discourse: unproductive; does not bring real social change; causes intolerance; amounting to cyberbullying.[8][9] Others argue that the term is used to attack efforts to promote accountability or give disenfranchised people a voice, and to attack language that is itself free speech. Still others question whether cancel culture is an actual phenomenon,[10] arguing that boycotting has existed long before the origin of the term "cancel culture".[9][11][12]
While the careers of some public figures have been impacted by boycotts—widely described as "cancellation"—others who complained of cancellation successfully continued their careers.[13][14]
- ^ Munro, Ealasaid (August 23, 2013). "Feminism: A Fourth Wave?". Political Insight. 4 (2): 22–25. doi:10.1111/2041-9066.12021. S2CID 142990260. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Sills, Sophie; Pickens, Chelsea; Beach, Karishma; Jones, Lloyd; Calder-Dawe, Octavia; Benton-Greig, Paulette; Gavey, Nicola (March 23, 2016). "Rape culture and social media: young critics and a feminist counterpublic". Feminist Media Studies. 16 (6): 935–951. doi:10.1080/14680777.2015.1137962. hdl:2292/30994. S2CID 147023782.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Bromwich 2018was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Yar, Sanam; Bromwich, Jonah Engel (October 31, 2019). "Tales From the Teenage Cancel Culture". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
- ^ McDermott, John (November 2, 2019). "Those People We Tried to Cancel? They're All Hanging Out Together". The New York Times. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "What It Means to Get 'Canceled'". Merriam-Webster. July 12, 2019. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c "What Does Cancel Culture Mean?". Dictionary.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ McWhorter, John (September 2020). "Academics Are Really, Really Worried About Their Freedom". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Cancel Culture Top 3 Pros and Cons". ProCon.org. September 27, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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