In modern internet slang, Chad refers to a White male who is stereotypically masculine, sexually active, athletic, and gainfully employed.[1][2][3] The term is related to the alpha/beta male dichotomy.[2][4][5][6] It originates from the 4chan message board, though it had previously been used locally in Chicago to refer to wealthy, athletic jocks from the city's northern suburbs.
Origin
The term "Chad" became a viral meme in the 2010s after appearing on the online message board 4chan under the name "Chad Thundercock".[2] Chad is described as a heterosexual White male, usually blond-haired,[1][7] who is gainfully employed, athletic, sexually active, and well-endowed.[3]
Years before the term became popular online, it had been used locally in Chicago to refer to wealthy, athletic men from the city's northern suburbs.[8] In Chicago, the term was covered by a satirical website dedicated to the Lincoln Park Chad Society, a fictional social club based in the city's upscale Lincoln Park neighborhood.[9][10]
Manosphere and internet use
The term has come into use in incel forums and as internet slang to refer to sexually active, genetically superior men, or "alpha males".[11] Within the manosphere and internet culture, Chads are generally viewed as constituting the top decile in terms of genetic fitness.[12] In online animation drawings in the manosphere, a Chad is further tagged with an explicit last name and is often depicted as a muscular blond man with very pronounced masculine features. One such depiction, in the "Virgin vs. Chad" internet meme that originated from the /r9k/ board on 4chan in 2017, contrasts an introverted and insecure "Virgin" who acts normal, compared to a muscular and egotistical "Chad" who acts absurdly and over the top.[13] Chads are sometimes portrayed as the opposite to "omega" or "beta" males, and as physically attractive. The term Chad is sometimes used interchangeably with "slayer".[14] Due to their characterization as being genetically gifted and privileged—though sometimes depicted as shallow, air-headed, arrogant, and overtly sexual[15]—the term Chad is used in both a pejorative and complimentary way on incel forums and on the internet as a whole.[16][17]
The female counterpart to a Chad, in slang, is a "Stacy",[18][19][20][21] or previously, the "Trixie".[22]
"Gigachad" is a related internet meme that uses black-and-white photographs of a muscular male model. It is used to assert one's opinion as correct, without providing evidence or reasoning.[23]
See also
References
External links
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