We have all come across the Alpha Podcast; well-groomed men who voice controversial opinions on relationships. Their well put together nature and daring comments being a major part of their appeal.
These can range from the role of women in society and what makes men important. The approach is typically aggressive and forthcoming. They are fuelled by an aggrieved entitlement that powers their need to assert their masculinity.
A wonderful sociologist known as Michael Kimmel once coined the term “aggrieved entitlement” which deals with the negative feelings a lot of men feel when their rightful place in society is questioned.
This comes from years and years of young boys being brought up to believe that their ability to assimilate into masculinity will reap rewards. If you are tougher than others, you will be respected. If you are nice to women, you will score with them.
Whenever these expectations aren’t met, a lot of the men who believe in it react with anger or indignation because the cards they were dealt felt rigged. It is at this sweet spot that many content creators have prospered — the world of the Alpha Podcast.
Dominated by the likes of Mac G, Kevin Samuels or Fresh & Fit, these podcasters and their off the mic musings tend to position their hatred towards women and anyone who sympathises with them.
But as more of these men dominate the podcast space, shifting the culture behind podcasts, do they not hold an inherent danger to themselves?
When we look at the rise of conversations that even come from a political standpoint, there is an existing attack on masculinity, a point of view that has risen in popularity as more women realise and exercise their freedom.
It was in the mid 2010s when more women voiced their frustrations at how they are treated. From sexism in the workplace to being catcalled in the streets. However, there was a lacking voice from the men. More men started to feel silenced in these situations, frustrated that they don’t get to voice their defence for the mistreatment of women which boiled out into the many voices who dominate conversations on the opposing genders.
This didn’t just empower women as a result, it left men feeling excluded and unwanted. The normative nature of being a man or a woman comes with a pre-packaged idea of what your life will be. Now that this is being redefined and changed, many men are struggling with how useless it makes them.
There are no expectations to be a breadwinner, there are expectations for men who impregnate women to be involved. There are no expectations to be moneyed but instead society embraces a less materialistic way of life. There are absolutely no rewards for meeting beauty and fashion ideals because the world embraces diversity.
The identity of masculinity is something questioned in a number of today’s programmes like Cobra Kai, which deals with the aftermath of the Karate Kid’s bully after losing a match to the boy he tormented. It also looks at the toxicity of meeting these standards through one of its characters who has a makeover to appear tough, becoming aggressive and ultimately becoming self-destructive.
It is also dealt with in Euphoria through the male lead Nate who uses abusive tactics to get what he wants although it also makes his life much more difficult for him.
Holding on to these ideals show just how much aggrieved entitlement numerous men have. They are not able to adjust to an equal society so instead they disrupt the one that does not make them feel powerful. It is very common to see many of these men put women down and blame them for their torrid mental health when in actual fact patriarchy is to blame.
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