The slang term Chad has historically been applied in different contexts. It originated in the UK, where it was used to describe a particular humorous ad-hoc cartoon.[1] Later, it was employed in Chicago as a derogatory description for young, upper-class, urban males.[2] In modern internet slang, the term generally refers to an "alpha"[3] or simply a sexually successful male.[4]
Origins
The slang term "Chad" originated in the UK during World War II and was employed in a similar humorous manner as Kilroy was here.[1] It later came into use in Chicago[2] as a derogatory way to describe a young, wealthy man from the city's northern suburbs, typically single and in his twenties or early thirties.[2] Chicago's Chads were 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.[5]
The term became a viral meme in the 2010s after appearing on the online messaging board 4chan under the name "Chad Thundercock".[6] Chad is described as a heterosexual, White male, usually blond-haired,[7][8] who is gainfully employed, athletic, sexually active, and well-endowed.[9]
The term has come into use in incel forums and as internet slang to refer to sexually active, genetically superior men, or "alpha males".[10] Within the manosphere and internet culture, Chads are generally viewed as constituting the top decile in terms of genetic fitness.[11] 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.[12] 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".[13] Due to their characterization as being genetically gifted and privileged—though sometimes depicted as shallow, air-headed, arrogant, and overtly sexual[14]—the term Chad is used in both a pejorative and complimentary way on incel forums and on the internet as a whole.[15][16]
The female counterpart to a Chad, in slang, is a "Stacy",[17][18][19][20] or previously, the "Trixie".[21]
"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.[22]
^Tracy Swartz (April 24, 2008). "Talk of the town". Chicago Redeye. Retrieved April 2, 2014. But there are terms within this Chi-alect that are specific to the North and South Sides.
^xu, Shi- (March 29, 2024). The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Discourse Studies. Taylor & Francis. p. 489. ISBN978-1-003-84912-4. The categories of "Virgo" and "Chad" emerged in 2016 from the publication of a meme on the social network 4chan. These names designate two stereotypical profiles of people or groups based on the +/- virility trait: the Chad or alpha male, heterosexual, white, attractive and popular; and his counterpart the Virgo or beta male.
^Gibson, Rebecca (2024). Cyborgs, Ethics, and The Matrix. Springer Nature. p. 12y. ISBN978-3-031-61010-3. Chad Thundercock or Nordic Gamer, is a memeable character sketch based on a drawing of a very stereotypically masculine man who gets with a lot of women and is tough and stoic. Square jawed, usually blond haired, muscular, and well-endowed.
