External links
- "Lincoln Park Chad Society". Archived from the original on December 5, 2006.
- "Lincoln Park Trixie Society". Archived from the original on October 17, 2000.
The slang term Chad has historically been applied in different contexts. It originated in the United Kingdom, 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]
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, supposedly 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 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 "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]
But there are terms within this Chi-alect that are specific to the North and South Sides.
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.
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.
...the archetypal sexually active, athletic, gainfully employed white male, dubbed "Chads"...