Not Hot for Alpha

Okay, the title is probably giving you the wrong idea….but I wanted to talk about Alpha Males in romance novels and why I’ve generally never liked them. I never really thought about it too hard (or too concretely) but I’ve read some books recently that helped me pinpoint why I avoid books that scream “alpha men fucking!!!!!” (and I’m not talking ABO here, folk, though I’m sure there’s overlap).

I have read some good books with characters who’d be marked as “alpha males”, and obviously there is a lot of wiggle room in what’s considered an Alpha Male. So this is a breakdown of what I don’t like about the particular Alpha Males that get described below (and which has me avoid those Alpha Men Fucking books in general).

I’m Big, Broad, and Badass

The very idea of an “alpha” kind of rubs me the wrong way, as it feels like it’s leaning into a sexist ideal, especially since Alpha Males are usually large (take that as you will), muscular, and rough and tumble. Nothing wrong with those traits, but the Alpha Male trope tends to place them as an ideal that All Men Should Aim For. I don’t think I need to go into why that’s problematic. (And it has nothing to do with me liking twinks