Manosphere concepts

The manosphere is a 21st century online network of mostly right-wing political commentators discussing issues related to masculinity and society. It has developed a number of concepts that are often considered politically incorrect. These concepts influenced the alt-right movement, though the degree of overlap remains controversial. The following is an incomplete list:

Theories about men

Sociosexual hierarchy

Main article: Heteronormativity

Commentators from Heartiste to Vox Day and others have popularized the notion that natural divisions and status levels exist among men. There are many different versions of this alleged hierarchy, and men may have attributes from some or all of the following types. These divisions are generally regarded as subjective and not scientific:

• Alpha men

Main article: Alpha male

Said to be the highest status men, who are not intimidated by women, but understand them well and manipulate them. They are generally the most popular men, but also the likeliest to get in fights to protect their status.

• Beta men

Main article: Beta male

Said to be a majority of white men who seek monogamous relationships with the aim of family formation. They are good providers and can be loyal workers. White mainstream members of this group are sometimes referred to as "snowflakes" for their adherence to postmodern values such as political correctness, or even as "soyboys" if they reject traditional masculine attitudes and actions.

• Delta men

Different definitions existed, but the term has generally come to describe unsuccessful men with low status, who are not total outsiders. They are often incel, or involuntarily celibate. In the past, many would still have been able to marry due to state or church-imposed restrictions on female sexuality.

• Gamma men

Said to be less respected men, who sometimes manage to pose like top-status men by using alternative strategies, and are often disliked for this reason. Likelier to use social manipulation, they may disparage Alpha men behind their backs, and cultivate false platonic relationships with women. They may act as "white knights", pretending to respect and unconditionally support women in order to gain limited sexual favors.

• Omega men

Main article: Omega male

In early versions, a different term for a highly capable Sigma Male. More recently, the term has been used to describe the lowest ranked men, universally considered to be failures. They are considered to be potential spree killers, though only a tiny minority does so.

• Sigma men

Said to be effective outsiders who go their own way. They are socially and personally competent, but don't feel the need for public status. Cultural example: Han Solo.

Game theory

Main article: Seduction community

A Player is said to be an Alpha male who practices Game in order to seduce women. He appears to have advanced social skills, and exhibits signs of having relatively high social status. He acts competent, relaxed, and confident that he has an abundance of romantic options; knowing that women tend to be attracted to men who are already popular with attractive women. Many of these concepts were popularized at Chateau Heartiste. "Game" can also be used by less successful men to appear more like winners to women.

• Overconfidence

It is said that men should not show fear, but act as if they only expect good things to happen to them. Here, it can actually help to be irrational.

• Amused mastery

It is said that men should not appear flustered or frustrated, but act as if they have everything effortlessly under control. This state of mind takes a lot of practice to achieve.

• Displays of higher value

It is said that men should act as if they have an abundance of resources, both material and social. This can include displays of wealth, but can also be simulated by acting as if these resources exist.

Theories about women

• "Cock carousel"

Controversial concept popularized by Heartiste: after the sexual liberation of the 1960s, many or most Western women have begun to practice a form of serial monogamy, where they spend their twenties having romantic flings with a minority of men they find attractive. Often they achieve a high notch count, indicating their number of sexual partners.

• The Wall

Supposedly, upon reaching their thirties, these women suddenly become much less attractive to Alpha men. Then they will seek a Beta Provider to marry. Later, they may divorce him and legally acquire his assets in a process Heartiste calls Divorce Theft or Divorce rape. Then they may vote to increase taxes on them to pay for their old age.

Antifeminism

Main article: Antifeminism

The manosphere claims that Western society has been weakened by the widespread adoption of feminist principles. To counter this alleged imbalance they support Men's rights as embodied in the Men's rights movement, which began in the Fathers' rights movement.

If these alleged feminist influences are not countered it may lead to men disengaging from society, as embodied in the phenomenon of the Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW) movement.

Political implications

Allegedly, many writers who originally started "Game" blogs were willing to extend their speculations beyond seduction and even gender roles into the area of reactionary politics, because the intense criticism they received from the mainstream media made them relatively immune to further accusations of being politically incorrect.

Most prominent manosphere writers appear to be right-wing, and supported Donald Trump's US presidential candidacy. The manosphere is often considered to be part of the controversial and since largely abandoned alt-right movement, and to have influenced some of its concepts. Members may refer to themselves as "Red Pill" men or even as Generation Zyklon, who reject the postmodern cultural hegemony. Although the manosphere includes non-white writers, its opinion leaders have been accused of opposing multiculturalism and supporting white identity politics.