Alpha male characters are said to possess the characteristics of confidence, assertiveness, leadership, and control. They exude courage, physical strength, dominance, protectiveness, independence, charisma, resilience, a code of honor, and emotional control in various situations, embodying a formidable and indestructible character. Literature has seen a surge in popularity in the past few decades. Filmmakers, television producers, fans, and critics are all interested in this genre.
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Hi! You have an interesting question that I would like to answer. Readers are drawn to the alpha male archetype in young adult literature. To understand the reason for this, we must consider the fact that most readers of young adult fiction are teenagers or young adults who are usually drawn to an idealized version of masculinity. This archetype is typically seen as dominating, powerful and protective. They have control over their emotions unless it is anger or jealousy triggered by the heroine. The idea of a powerful and well-disciplined man having a weakness that is exclusively attached to the heroine is attractive to most readers. The contrast of extreme power and weakness makes the alpha man more alluring because it sets an unrealistic standard that is not seen in the real world. It is human nature to be attracted to the impossible, the fantastic and the paradox. This is why sometimes, the readers find villains more interesting than heroes. Think about it. A powerful man who possesses superior intelligence, resources and charisma but has a soft spot only for you. Exciting, right?
However, there is a difference between being assertive and abusive. The actual archetype of an alpha male is a leader and not a tyrant. While reading young adult literature, an abusive or vain male lead would disappoint many readers.
The sad reality here is that it is the abusive lead that gets all kind of fame. Some of the perfect examples include books written by authors like Rina Kent, Adeline, Sloane Howell, Alex Wolf, Sav R. Miller, and Penelope Douglas.The male lead characters promoted in these books tend to be more misogynistic and patronising than anything else.The fine line between realistic and overly melodramatic representations of young adults is blurred, and there is a danger of perpetuating stereotypes. These books have presented non-consent as the new norm. Rape and sexual abuse are glorified in the plotlines of these books here. The more misogynist, the more dominant, and the more abusive the MMC ( male main character ) is, the more attractive the character is to the FMC(Female Main Character).What is scary is that these kinds of tropes are primarily promoted and sponsored by commercial entities such as Amazon, Instagram, Kindle, and other social media platforms that are operating within a capitalist framework.These kinds of books are equivalent to literature porn. This literature porn which is available exclusively online consists of explicit sexual content. The widespread availability due to easy accessibility is an issue which is to be concerned. Unrealistic expectations leading to distorted perceptions of sexuality lead to a lot of problems in the immediate future. Similarly, the objectification of women is another complementary feature that is available alongside alpha hero tropes. This objectification of women reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and contributes to unequal power dynamics which leads to negatively impacting women’s self-esteem and mental well-being. Some studies suggest a correlation between exposure to violent pornography and an increased likelihood of engaging in sexual violence. All of this can have detrimental effects on the psychological and emotional well-being of adolescents and young adult audiences.The aftermath of such genred books is multifaceted, as they contribute to the creation of unrealistic expectations and perpetuate disillusioned gender aspects and differences. These books result in the creation of a new fanbase for sexual subculture. Moreover, they often present problematic depictions of sex education, offering unrealistic answers to real case issues. Additionally, these books can reinforce the white man’s savior complex and perpetuate stereotypes, further complicating the portrayal of gender dynamics and societal expectations.
Hi! You have an interesting question that I would like to answer. Readers are drawn to the alpha male archetype in young adult literature. To understand the reason for this, we must consider the fact that most readers of young adult fiction are teenagers or young adults who are usually drawn to an idealized version of masculinity. This archetype is typically seen as dominating, powerful and protective. They have control over their emotions unless it is anger or jealousy triggered by the heroine. The idea of a powerful and well-disciplined man having a weakness that is exclusively attached to the heroine is attractive to most readers. The contrast of extreme power and weakness makes the alpha man more alluring because it sets an unrealistic standard that is not seen in the real world. It is human nature to be attracted to the impossible, the fantastic and the paradox. This is why sometimes, the readers find villains more interesting than heroes. Think about it. A powerful man who possesses superior intelligence, resources and charisma but has a soft spot only for you. Exciting, right?
However, there is a difference between being assertive and abusive. The actual archetype of an alpha male is a leader and not a tyrant. While reading young adult literature, an abusive or vain male lead would disappoint many readers.