The internet is a breeding ground for memes, and one that has gained significant traction over the years is the "Chad Stride." This meme, often depicted through illustrations, compares individuals with varying levels of confidence and social skills, typically contrasting a "virgin" character with a "Chad." But what exactly does "Chad" mean, and how did this meme originate?
The Origins of "Chad"
In its simplest form, a "Chad" is a sexually active "alpha male." The term originated within the incel (involuntary celibate) culture and is often used to denote the opposite of an incel. Incels see themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one and often demonize women as a result. A "Chad," on the other hand, gets all the women because of his perceived superior appearance, confidence, and physical prowess.
Incels are often envious of these so-called Chads for being able to date and sleep with many women, resenting them for "stealing" all the available women. According to Chris Haywood, Ph.D., incels often use a rating system to justify their lack of romantic and sexual competence, categorizing men into Alpha Fux (Chads), Beta Bux (older men with money), and Sub5 males (those they deem themselves to be).
The "Chad Stride" Meme
The word "Chad" gained mainstream traction (and its ironic usage) thanks to a popular 2017 meme known as "The Chad Stride." The Chad Stride depicted how an arrogant Chad walks like an entitled person. According to KnowYourMeme.com, the drawing was created in opposition to the "The Virgin Walk" illustration, which depicts how an incel walks without confidence.
Is Being Called a "Chad" a Good Thing?
Generally, no. While the term might seem complimentary on the surface, its origins are rooted in resentment and negativity. When non-incels use the slang term, it's not only used in connection to stereotypically attractive men; the word is also used to describe a person (or story) they simply find frustrating or disagree with.
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Whether it's coming from the incel community or on regular-person social media, the word Chad reinforces the toxic ideology that incel men are somehow victims in a system of oppression entirely of their own invention. It also puts so-called Chads on a pedestal.
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The Virgin vs. Chad Meme
Here’s a typical Virgin vs. Chad meme:
- The “Virgin” archetype embodies everything that unsuccessful “incels” dislike about themselves: insecurity, poor posture, and a general fear of social interaction.
- The “Chad” archetype embodies everything they simultaneously hate and envy in other men: cockiness, entitlement, and a strong jawline.
While these outwardly confident Chads might be hurting on the inside, the meme and its perspective on life don’t allow Chad any complexity.
Where Did the Chad Meme Come From?
According to Know Your Meme, the “Chad vs Virgin” illustrations originated on 4chan’s /r9k/ forum. When it comes from R9k’s “robots,” this kind of humor can be genuinely self-deprecating, although not without plenty of ironic exaggeration.
But when the meme leaked out of r9k and onto other sites, it becomes completely absurd. Rather than making jokes about the real people the characters represent, the joke is now that someone would treat these characters as valid at all. No one could possibly think the world’s men could be divided into Virgins and Chads, right?
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Virgin vs Chad Fanfic and Fan Art
Tumblr discovered the two characters and put its own spin on them. A lot of the Tumblr Giga Chad memememes treat Chad not as a puffed-up and arrogant rival, but as a confident example of how to act. Another interesting dynamic occurred once Chad and the Virgin made it out of 4chan: people started “shipping” them-i.e., some now see the Virgin and Chad as a loving, fictional couple.
There are also fandom memes that place certain characters from Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and other popular franchises, into the Virgin vs. Chad categories.
Similarities to the ‘Me vs. other girls’ Meme
The best analogy is to an old Tumblr meme, “Me vs. Other Girls.” That began with a Tumblr fanartist comparing herself (“normal,” “nerdy,” “just right”) to “trashy,” “orange,” and fake “Other Girls.” The implication was that the nice nerd was being passed over for shallow, stereotypically attractive women. It carried the same resentment as the Virgin vs. Chad meme.
The result was fantastic: instead of pitting the two girls against each other, Tumblr made them kiss. “Normal-chan” and “Other girls-sama” became a new couple, nicknamed “Creamsicle,” because one is orange and one is white.
In both cases, the message was that archetypes don’t have to define people, and we’re only hurting ourselves when we can’t look past them.
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The GigaChad Meme
Time is indeed a flat circle, and every meme concept recurs eternally, fated only to be adapted to the prevailing events and principles of the day before it disappears back into obscurity.
Or until it simply finds its next evolutionary stage, eg the GigaChad meme.
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