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March 19, 2010

Omega Males

Jessica Grose offers a limited typology of the Omega-male, a non-Alpha, non-Beta male who is middle-aged, unemployed and beneath the notice of quality women like Jessica Grose.

The image of the American woman has gone through several upheavals since the 1950s, but the masculine ideal seems fixed in cultural aspic: Think slick ad executive Don Draper in Mad Men and the WWII heroes in the Tom Hanks-produced HBO series The Pacific. So his confused, paralyzed counterpart is cropping up in ever-more variations on TV and in movies: the omega male.

I cannot help but notice the one thing Liberal Arts Layabouts, Mimbos, Beer Guys and Game Boys have in common is their varied life strategies all mean they do not have to deal with grasping and, I strongly suspect, single post-feminist entertainment journalists whose liberal ideology conflicts with their conservative biology. Call them Omega Females, confused and paralyzed by their forbidden longing for Don Draper and apoplectic with rage that real Don Drapers all yearn for Sarah Palin.

Not to worry, Jessica. I imagine you will find someone willing to settle for your bullshit.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at March 19, 2010 08:57 AM

Comments

Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much.

Seriously, Flea, what's with the hate for this article? Can it be news to you that there are men in the world who are unambitious or immature, or, just in general, losers?

The news here, apparently, is that suddenly there's a whole crop of them springing up in various media. (You couldn't prove it by me, since I've never heard of any of the movies or shows mentioned.) That's pretty much it: "Oh, look! A trend!" Sadly, that's not enough words for an article, so the author had to pad it out with descriptions and examples.

Furthermore, it sounds to me as if she sympathizes with these (entirely fictional, let us remember) men. The poor economy, she tells us, has robbed them of their chances to be the breadwinners their fathers were, so they are forced to be superannuated teenagers, or something. It's bull, yes, but sympathetic bull.

Honestly, Flea: "I don't like what this chick has to say so she must be a man-hating shrew"? Very poor form, fit for a superannuated teenager, and far beneath you.

Posted by: Angie Schultz [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 20, 2010 03:59 AM

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