"Like a Father That I Didn't Have": Constructing Community and Masculinity in the Red Pill Subreddit

Abstract

The Red Pill subreddit is an online community on the social media platform Reddit, a community that aims to discuss sexual strategy. Their discussions are framed by their belief that feminism is a manipulation tactic used by women to satisfy their own interests and oppress men. In this study, I analyze the strategies of members on the Red Pill subreddit to decipher what strategies they consider successful, as well as how members reject or accept these strategies. To do this, I conduct a qualitative content analysis of the 30 most popular posts of 2024 from the subreddit. Through my findings I explain the types of interactions members engaged in to identify what content met Red Pill standards, and what was considered unacceptable. I then describe the strategies members perceived as successful, particularly emotional detachment and control. My findings were connected to concepts of masculinity and performance.