Edward Elgar Publishing Disconnection and Cancel Culture: Karens, Kyles, and Intolerance in American Society

Taking a sociological approach, this timely book explains the significance, development, and impact of cancel culture. Robert McNamara discusses the popular phenomenon of ‘Karens’ and their male counterparts, often known as ‘Kyles,’ ‘Kevins,’ or ‘Kens’, demonstrating how they are symptomatic of a larger trend in American society. McNamara examines how the tendency of these archetypes to find fault over minor inconveniences is reflected in wider debates, where people struggle to consider perspectives that differ from their own. He illustrates how the weaponization of cancel culture can serve as a form of social capital punishment in response to disagreements on issues such as race, free speech in higher education, religion, and sexuality. Adopting a neutral approach, the book investigates how an inability to disagree constructively has made cancel culture increasingly popular across America’s political spectrum, intersecting with contentious topics such as white privilege, identity politics, and political correctness. It emphasizes how this has made it more difficult to maintain meaningful social relationships, contributing to the loneliness epidemic in American society. Disconnection and Cancel Culture is a vital resource for students and scholars of cultural and political sociology, anthropology, and political science. Academics studying gender politics, inequality, and social movements will also benefit from the book’s theoretical and practical insights.