Up your sigma male grindset

Sigma is the name of the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet, Capital sigma is written as Σ; lowercase sigma is written as σ and ς at the end of words. Sigma is transliterated as the English letter S and s. In fact, the English letter S develops from the Greek sigma. Sigma follows the pattern in masculinist subcultures of using (often sequential) letters of the Greek alphabet to create a social hierarchy of masculinity, e.g., alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and omega males.

The term sigma male seems to be a creation of far-right activist and writer Theodore Robert Beale, who goes by Vox Day. Beale began using the term as early as January 2010, when he defined it on his blog. Why Beale chose specifically sigma (as opposed to other letters yet untaken in masculinist discourse) is unclear.

While a so-called alpha male is aggressive, sociable, and outgoing, the sigma male is constructed as succeeding in life and in relationships without actively engaging in social interaction. The sigma male is introverted and shuns mainstream society, yet still manages to be a successful man who is popular with women.

Beale described sigma males as “lone wolves” and likened them to introverted alpha males. He singled out actor Clint Eastwood’s movie characters as examples of sigma males. In a more recent post about the topic, he would further define the sigma male as “The outsiders who don’t play the social game and manage to win at it anyhow.” According to Beale, alpha males dislike sigma males because sigma males effortlessly succeed while alpha males have to work hard to achieve their status.