Alpha Beta Bull Pucky

{Author's Note this was written in 2017. I had not gotten around to publishing it when the great implosion happened.}

Originally I was going to write about how Beta males are treated by our society. I was using the Beta as used when discussing wolves, canines, and primates. The problem is the terms Alpha Males and Beta Males have been corrupted when referring to human males. In the Animal Kingdom and alpha is a leader. No true leader would care about what other thought of them or fitting someone else’s molds. The whole Alpha male phenomenon is used to excuse bad behavior. The whole Beta male concept feed into an Us versus Them mentality, instead of solving the toxic masculinity we have in this society.

The idea that an Alpha male is the macho jock type or corporate raider type is a misnomer. It is a false construct created to excuse bad behavior. Look at the Stanford Rapist. He was presented at the one who was unfairly treated by our system. The victim was treated like she did not matter. This tends to happen with affluent “alpha” male types. The alphas are the more confident types, A type personalities, overachievers, the socially adept ones who fit in to the stereotypes of gender roles.

The betas are allegedly the less confident, the more intellectual, and passive types. The funny thing is the way human society acts they are treated more the traditional omega from wolves, canines, and primates. The Beta is also used to mean weak, submissive types, especially in certain human sub-cultures. In those social orders, the beta is the second in command. They are more supportive, but that is a role. In those orders the beta is the heir to the alpha position should anything happen to the alpha. In that manner the metaphor does not work as humans use it. The whole Alpha and Beta male dichotomy in humans is used to excuse bad behavior by the so-called Alpha males. It is their nature so therefore no their fault. The types of crimes that are excused by these people being labeled Alpha Males is terrifying, rape, murder, white collar crimes, domestic abuse, sexual harassment and so on. Interesting enough, the so-called Alpha Males are rarely any socio-economic level lower than middle-middle class. They are almost always Caucasian, Heterosexual, and Cis-Gendered. 

To me it seems the concept is used to keep the status quo, give the rank and file in our society the idea that leaders can only be certain types. These types of people are threatened and we are seeing their last gasps for control. In this system control is gained by keeping those with no power divided. The concept is also rooted to a toxic view of masculinity. One of the fallacies in that concept is that male sexuality is inherently predatory. That includes the idea males cannot control their sexual urges. Sentencing of sex crimes is also tied up in socio-economic politics. Suspects from middle middle-class backgrounds or higher are more likely to get lighter sentences. Where as suspects of color or people of lower middle class backgrounds or lower are more like to get harsher sentencing.

The problem is the toxic masculinity in this country seems also tied to socio-economics and race too. These rules are meant to protect those in power ad excuse their bad behavior. They will ridicule and discount anyone who does not fit their narrow view of masculinity. That has only perpetuated a culture that is toxic. They are also resistant to change. The funny thing is two groups most affected by this toxic masculinity are kept at each other’s throats. They are stuck in a dichotomy. Those groups are the Feminist and Men’s Rights groups. The powers that be are the cause to both their woes. The powers that be fear a coming together of both groups, so they push the more radical elements of both group against each other.