A new classification of manly men called "The Sigma Male" got raked across the coals for its new entry into the alpha/beta mythology espoused by the Men's Rights Movement (MRM) and incel movement.
So what makes a Sigma Male?
According to the U.K.'s prominent pick-up artist and dating coach, Steve Jabba, a Sigma male is "a man who lives outside the hierarchy."
"He does his own thing and dances to his own beat. A Sigma Male is also very attractive to women, at the top of the socio sexual hierarchy alongside the Alpha."
Jabba said there is a male hierarchy, where men "stratify themselves on a totem pole." The higher men are up on said "totem pole," the more social and sexual rewards await them.
He added that:
"Sigmas are just as high up the sexual Totem pole as Alphas—but are outside the hierarchy by choice."
Jabba's inappropriate co-opting of Indigenous culture aside, Forbes had a different description, saying the category offered "misguided men a chance to place themselves at the very top of this imaginary hierarchy, without the loud, boisterous personality that an 'alpha' boasts."
The character of John Wick, portrayed in the movies by actor Keanu Reeves, is an example of the "lone wolf" archetype without the popularity of being an alpha.
Confused?
So is Twitter user Lily Simpson.
They tweeted their observation on the concept of the male ego trip, writing:
"What the f'k is going on with men."
@LilySimpson1312/Twitter
The post was accompanied by a compilation of examples—including a book titled The Sigma Male – What Women Really Want and a chart explaining the five supposed archetypes of men: Omega, Gamma, Beta, Sigma, and Alpha.
@LilySimpson1312/Twitter
@LilySimpson1312/Twitter
@LilySimpson1312/Twitter
@LilySimpson1312/Twitter
The Sigma Male appears to be a product of the men's rights movement (MRM) expansion on the concept of the alpha male—based on the now-debunked theory wolf packs were led by a lone domineering leader known as the alpha—to judge various levels of one's manliness.
The Southern Poverty Law Center designated MRM as "a hate ideology under the umbrella of 'male supremacy.'" The movement is often openly misogynistic.
The new addition to the concept of male hierarchy was seen as being ridiculous and was subsequently dragged on Twitter. Twitter user @CaseyExplosion commented on the "cishet weirdos" conjuring up a confusing new archetype.
A cishet person is someone who is both cisgender and heterosexual or cisgender and heteroromantic.
It appears Twitter acknowledged the new male archetype with one huge eye roll.
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter