Alphas

In Quebec and around the world, more and more young men are embracing ideological conservatism. Backlash from the #MeToo movement? Crisis of masculinity? Lack of inspiring male role models? Social networking algorithms? Toxic masculinists, led by Andrew Tate, are reaching millions of young followers. By following Quebec influencers who take their inspiration from Tate, this investigation attempts to understand why young men are adhering to models straight from another era and aspiring to become alpha males: family providers whose spouses stay at home, successful with both women and money. On their social networks, these men preach their advice on how to become a ‘real man’. Often entrepreneurs, libertarians, distrustful of the ‘system’, they represent more than any single marginal phenomenon. Is it possible to listen, to try to understand and reconcile these men with the society from which they feel excluded? Before and during its broadcast Alphas generated an exceptional buzz. Print media, newspapers and various TV channels covered the alpha male phenomenon for around 2 weeks, the trailer was viewed 1.5 million times on social networks, the documentary was shown in schools and generated reactions that far exceeded the team’s expectations.