Saying ‘Neckbeard’ Isn’t Hurtful in the Way You Think – Why We Need to Drop This Insult

Have you come across “neckbeard” as an insult?

It’s popular in some corners of the internet – think of the common stereotype of a “fat loser living in his mom’s basement” for an idea of what this insult is meant to convey.

And although “neckbeard” is often used by feminists in response to misogyny, this cartoon makes a good point about why it’s is a misguided way to go about criticizing sexist men.

With this break-down of what’s behind this insult, you’ll understand why we can’t keep using gendered insults based on appearance. The “neckbeard” stereotype has no part in the world we’re working to build as feminists.

With Love,

The Editors at Everyday Feminism

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Barry Deutsch is a Contributing Comic Artist for Everyday Feminism living in Portland. You can read more of his political cartoons on his Patreon. He also creates Hereville, a comic about an 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl who wants to fight monsters, and (with Becky Hawkins) SuperButch, a comic about a lesbian superhero in the 1940s. Check out his blog and follow him on Twitter and on Tumblr.