Sigma male
Sigma male (or simply sigma) is a term in internet slang used most often to describe the archetype of a male who is a "lone wolf".[1][2] While the name is a product of manosphere message boards in the 2010s, the term has gained widespread prominence within internet culture, and since the early 2020s, has become an internet meme.[3] Commonly regarded as the "rarest" type of male,[4] a sigma male is typically denoted as an archetype of a male who is similar to the alpha male. Unlike an alpha male, sigma males are more introverted and seek to dominate themselves, in other words "self-mastery".
On social media, the term is often used to describe the idolization of masculine characters from films and TV shows, or celebrities.[5] Alternatively, the term has taken on an ironic and satirical meaning, mocking the concept of the manosphere and the sigma grindset.[6]
In 2023, #sigma gained over 46 billion views on the social media platform TikTok.[7]
Etymology
The term first originated in a 2010 blog post by American alt-right writer Vox Day.[8][non-primary source needed] In 2014, California plastic surgeon John T. Alexander published the book The Sigma Male: What Women Really Want,[9] and advertised it on social networking sites Twitter and Tumblr.[10] Between 2017 and 2018, the term began to gain popularity on YouTube,[10] and has since included titles such as "Why Sigma Males are Highly Attractive to Women", "5 Habits of the Sigma Male", and "10 Signs You’re a Sigma Male". The term went viral in 2021 following a tweet by YouTuber Lily Simpson, stating "What the f**k is going on with men"[11] alongside infographics of sigma-related content.[12] According to Google Trends, the "sigma male" search term first appeared in 2021.[7]
Usage
The term is often used to describe film characters. Actor Christian Bale's portrayal of the character Patrick Bateman from the 2000 film American Psycho is most often cited as an ideal representation of a sigma male, both through memes and unironic discussion.[13] This includes Tommy Shelby, the protagonist of the crime drama Peaky Blinders,[7] and Canadian actor Ryan Gosling.[14] It is also used to describe celebrities, for instance, journalist Robert Crampton, who writes the Beta Male column of The Times Saturday magazine, describes the controversial social media personality Andrew Tate as a sigma male.[15]
Criticism
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Beth Skwarecki, health editor of the weblog Lifehacker, describe the sigma male as a "bullshit concept from the incel world."[16] Due to the term's attribution to fictional film characters, it has been highlighted as promoting unrealistic personality and beauty standards.[14]
See also
References
- ^ Yalcinkaya, Günseli (January 13, 2022). "Rise and grind: how 'sigma males' are upturning the internet". Dazed. Illustrations by Ester Mejibovski. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Bharti, Bianca (February 3, 2021). "What is a sigma male — the so-called rarest man?". National Post. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Di Placido, Dani (January 26, 2021). "The Pseudoscience Behind The 'Sigma Male,' Explained". Forbes. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Bharti, Bianca (February 3, 2024). "What is a sigma male - the so-called rarest man?". National Post. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Hoghaug, James (September 13, 2022). "Sigma or Killer? The Truth Behind American Psycho's Patrick Bateman". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Yalcinkaya, Günseli (February 18, 2022). "Interview with A Sigma Male". The Oxford Student. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Reix, Justine (April 28, 2023). "The Rise of the 'Sigma Male', a New Kind of Toxic Masculinity". Vice News. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Day, Vox (May 26, 2010). "Explaining sigma. Again". Vox Popoli. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Bulger, Adam (July 20, 2022). "What Is a Sigma Male? Unpacking the Latest in Male Archetypes". Fatherly. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Klee, Miles (January 27, 2021). "Everything You Never Wanted to Know About the 'Sigma Male'". MEL Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Simpson, Lily [@LilySimpson1312] (January 25, 2021). "What the f*ck is going on with men" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Joseph, Jisha (January 29, 2021). "Twitter tears into emergence of the 'sigma male' because being the 'alpha' is so yesterday". Upworthy. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ John Bautista, Kimberly (August 4, 2023). "Patrick Bateman: The Sigma Man's False Idol". Esquire. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Webb, Armando Quesada (November 3, 2023). "'Literally me': Why do so many straight guys love Ryan Gosling?". El País. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Crampton, Robert (March 2, 2024). "I'll never be an alpha male. These days that's a good thing". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Skwarecki, Beth (September 3, 2021). "'Sigma Male' Is Not a Personality". Lifehacker. Retrieved March 2, 2024.