Keep Factually independent

Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.

Loading...Time left: ...
Loading...Goal: $500

Fact check: How do femboys interact with other groups within the groyper community, such as incels and tradcaths?

Checked on October 18, 2025

Executive Summary

Femboys occupy a contradictory position within the Groyper milieu: they are publicly denounced as symbols of “degeneracy” while privately serving as objects of fixation, ironic fascination, and sometimes strategic provocation. Reporting on how femboys interact with incels and tradcaths shows patterns of projection, meme-driven ambivalence, and ideological clash, but contemporary coverage remains fragmentary and contested [1] [2] [3].

1. Why the Groyper-Femboy Relationship Reads Like a Case Study in Contradiction

The Groyper movement’s public posture is doggedly reactionary, yet its online culture is saturated with irony and inside jokes that blur sincerity and mockery; femboys are emblematic of that ambivalence. Sources portray Groypers as both condemning gender nonconformity and obsessively engaging with it, suggesting fixation as a coping mechanism for repressed desires and identity anxieties. This pattern of denounce-and-fascinate reflects broader internet subcultural dynamics where outrage and eroticization coexist, producing performative homophobia and a marketplace of memes that both stigmatize and sexualize feminine-presenting men [1] [2].

2. Incels and Femboys: Projection, Rivalry, and Limited Interaction Evidence

Contemporary analysis finds limited direct evidence of sustained, organized interaction between incels and femboys within Groypers, but existing work highlights recurring themes: projection of sexual frustration, use of femboys as scapegoats, and sporadic fetishization. Incels’ grievance-driven language frames femboys as both rivals and unattainable ideals, intensifying misogynistic narratives and feeding online mockery. The available reporting signals episodic engagement rather than institutionalized alliances, with notable absences in detailed ethnography on how these groups negotiate individual relationships or shared online spaces [4] [2].

3. Tradcaths and Gender Orthodoxy: Friction Over Moral Order

Traditionalist Catholics represented in reporting emphasize restoration of traditional gender roles, placing them at odds with any celebration of cross-dressing or feminine-presenting men. While tradcath communities are not monolithic, their doctrinal emphasis on binary gender and moral teachings creates friction with femboys’ visibility; this friction manifests as theological condemnation and social distancing rather than direct coalition-building with Groypers. Coverage shows institutional concerns about “gender ideology” and cultural decline, leaving space for Groypers to selectively borrow tradcath rhetoric while diverging starkly on tactics and tone [5] [6] [7].

4. “Transmaxxing” and the Weaponization of Gender Language

Emerging alt-right concepts like “transmaxxing” demonstrate how gender language is repurposed for political ends, encouraging transition as a perceived social strategy in hostile communities. Reporting criticizes this rhetoric as transphobic and unfounded, arguing it erases real harms faced by trans people and repackages misogyny. Within Groypers and adjacent Black Pill circles, such ideas circulate as both mockery and a cynical tactic to destabilize progressive discourse about gender, amplifying hostility while offering pseudo-strategic rationales for embracing or mimicking gender nonconformity [3].

5. Meme Culture Makes Sincerity Hard to Trust — That’s the Point

The meme-driven nature of Groypers means humor, irony, and performative signals often substitute for clear ideology; femboys become a recurring meme object whose meaning shifts by context. This fluidity complicates efforts to categorize interactions with incels and tradcaths: a post might be sincere condemnation in one community, satirical provocation in another, and fetishistic admiration elsewhere. Analysts caution that treating viral posts as representative can mislead researchers about underlying attitudes, and existing coverage stresses the need for more granular, participant-level studies to separate rhetorical play from durable social ties [2] [1].

6. Where Reporting Is Weak: Gaps, Missing Data, and Research Needs

Current sources repeatedly note scant empirical documentation of interpersonal dynamics among femboys, Groypers, incels, and tradcaths. Most accounts rely on interpretive readings of posts, leaked chats, and culture criticism rather than systematic ethnography. This gap leaves open questions about the prevalence of romantic or sexual relationships across these groups, the degree to which rhetorical alliances translate to offline coordination, and the lived experiences of femboys targeted or embraced by reactionary actors. Scholars recommend mixed-methods fieldwork and longitudinal monitoring to fill these blind spots [4] [1].

7. Reading Motives: Political Signaling, Personal Desire, and Media Framing

Analysts emphasize three competing motivations shaping interactions: political signaling (using femboys to troll opponents), personal desire (repressed or ironic sexual attraction), and media framing (external narratives that amplify contradictions). Each lens yields different interpretations: political actors weaponize gender nonconformity for culture-war wins; individuals oscillate between contempt and attraction; reporters and platforms choose frames that either pathologize or normalize behaviors. The resulting literature thus reflects not only events but the agendas of commentators and institutions shaping public understanding [1] [6].

8. Bottom Line: Complex, Contradictory, and Understudied — Policy Implications

The state of knowledge is clear about one thing: interactions among femboys, Groypers, incels, and tradcaths are complex and often contradictory, lacking robust empirical grounding. Policymakers, platform moderators, and scholars should treat single viral incidents cautiously, prioritize direct ethnographic evidence, and recognize how ideological framing can obscure lived harms. Current sources call for nuanced monitoring that separates rhetorical provocation from coordinated extremism, while centering protections for gender-nonconforming people who face harassment amplified by these entangled subcultures [1] [3] [4].

Want to dive deeper?
What is the history of the groyper movement and its subgroups?
How do incels and femboys intersect in online communities?
What role do tradcaths play in shaping groyper ideology?
Can femboys be considered a distinct subgroup within the groyper movement?
How do femboys navigate potential conflicts with incels and tradcaths?