The tragic trajectory of a man who blamed feminists for his failures

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Marc Lépine’s 1989 massacre at École Polytechnique was not a sudden outburst, but the culmination of years of social isolation and personal rejection. By examining his life—from an abusive childhood to repeated academic failures—we can see how radicalized misogyny often serves as a convenient scapegoat for deep-seated personal inadequacy.

Born Gamil Rodrigue Liess Gharbi, Lépine grew up in a household marked by instability and violence. His father, Rachid, was described as an authoritarian man who held contempt for women and was frequently abusive toward both his wife and children. After the parents separated in 1971, Lépine lived with his mother while being subjected to frequent moves and social isolation. He eventually changed his name to Marc Lépine at age 14, explicitly citing a "hatred of his father" as the reason for adopting his mother's surname.

Lépine’s adult life was characterized by a pattern of academic and professional friction. Despite being considered bright, he struggled with peer relationships and suffered from low self-esteem. He failed to join the Canadian Forces in 1981 due to difficulties accepting authority and was later fired from a hospital job in 1987 for aggressive behavior. Throughout his attempts at higher education, such as his pursuit of engineering at École Polytechnique, he repeatedly failed to complete compulsory prerequisites, leading to repeated rejections that fueled his resentment.

His ideology crystallized around an obsession with "non-traditional" women and a hatred for feminism. Lépine frequently complained to friends that women were taking over the job market and believed they should remain in the home. On December 6, 1989, he entered École Polytechnique and murdered 14 women, specifically targeting them while shouting that he was "fighting feminism." His suicide note confirmed this motive, claiming that feminists had "always ruined" his life. Canada marks 6 December annually to commemorate and address the prevalence of violence against women nationwide.

Criminologists and psychologists have analyzed the massacre through various lenses, including personality disorders, psychosis, and attachment issues. However, many emphasize the societal factors of isolation and powerlessness that allowed Lépine to radicalize his personal failures into a violent hate crime against women.

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