Thread by @Positivteacha

🧵 SIGMA MALES: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS 🧵

Lots of people have got in touch to tell me they’d like to know a little more about Sigma males because the term ‘Sigma’ is something lots of teenage boys are mentioning in schools.

So here we go... 👇

In order to understand what a Sigma Male is, it’s important that we remind ourselves of what an Alpha Male is.

An Alpha male is a man who holds a position of dominance over less powerful males (beta males).

Alpha males earn their dominant position through:

- Sexual success with women

- Accumulation and displays of material wealth

- Physical dominance through violence or displays of physical power such as working out

- Looking attractive

- Subjugation of others, often women

Many boys aspire to be Alpha, and look up to other Alphas. Alphas like Andrew Tate.

Sigmas are similar to Alphas in many ways. Like Alphas, Sigmas are:

- Sexually attractive to women...

- Likely to have accumulated material wealth which is often on display (though, unlike Alphas – not necessarily in an ostentatious display that one might consider tacky. Think subtle Saville Row tailoring rather than tracksuits slathered in designer brands)...

-Likely to be revered for their physical strength, either because of their violence (which true Sigmas rarely need to resort to, such is the power they hold), displays of physical power or prowess, or muscular physique

Sigma’s are different from Alpha’s however in other ways...

Other ways which mean they are often seen as superior to Alphas. If Alphas are leaders of the pack, Sigmas are what one might consider ‘Lone Wolves’ 👇

Rather than focussing on accumulating power through leading others, or accumulating followers, Sigmas exist happily within their own sphere of influence. They are not interested in being part of the group. Their focus is inward facing...

... They take care of themselves: they work out, they take pride and care in their appearance, they abstain from baser pleasures -such as mindless sex and drug and alcohol binges that other men find so appealing in favour of self-betterment.

Their existence outside of masculine hierarchies renders them enigmatic. This mystery a tendency to speak only when it matters makes them especially attractive.

 The most revered Sigma male is Patrick Bateman. Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders is also considered a Sigma.

Is aspiring to Sigma-ship dangerous?
Being a sigma means adhering to a complex set of stereotypical masculine stereotypes which are dangerous. The focus on isolation cannot be good in a world in which men are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than women...

...Certainly on the online space we call the manosphere, user posts praising Sigma males also contain misogynistic viewpoints. To be a true Sigma, you have sex with women for your own gratification and certainly would not consider dating women in any meaningful sense...

Some incels, realising that they will never achieve Sigma-ship, blame women and there’s a lot of anti-feminist, anti-female rhetoric associated with this realisation...

What do kids think about Sigmas?
In all honesty, for kids in Year 9 and above, I believe that many references to Sigma males are often tongue in cheek and without any real understanding of exactly what a Sigma is. When the term is used, it’s often used as a weapon...

...the same way students might talk about Andrew Tate loudly in front of a teacher not because they have a genuine understanding of Tate and what he’s saying, but because they know mentions of Tate wind us up.

Whenever I ask Young People what a Sigma is, I’m often met with embarrassed faces and sheepish grins. I might be wrong, but I think the embarrassment stems from an irony: the moment you talk about what you admire in a Sigma, you admit that you are not in fact Sigma...

...Sigma’s don’t need to admire other men, after all. Their only focus is on themselves.

When I spoke to young people recently and asked them what a Sigma was, here’s what they told me:

‘A sigma is a cringey male stereotype that’s tall, masculine and rich. Bad for women.’...

...‘A Sigma is the same thing as an Alpha’

‘A strong, big man with a good jawline.’

‘A sigma is someone who you respect, but it’s strange to say that. Basically ‘sigma’ is anything that’s just better.’

‘A male that’s powerful and cool, and respected.’ (female response)

‘A sigma is a man that is known to be very stereotypically masculine. Dominant and tough.’

If you found this helpful, please say so. Please RT and remember, if you want me in your school to speak to staff or students about this sorta thing I'm only a message away!