dudebro

Dudebro is a slang term used to describe a young man associated with a masculine subculture characterized by boisterousness, competitiveness, and a focus on traditional masculine status symbols. The stereotype often includes an affinity for sports, fraternities or college social life, casual dating, partying, car culture, and a tendency toward blunt or dismissive humor. The dudebro archetype emphasizes group belonging, physical confidence, and in some depictions, a disregard for others' feelings, sometimes including misogyny or sexist attitudes. The term originated in North American English, drawing on the words "dude" and "bro," and gained prominence in late 1990s and 2000s internet discourse as part of broader "bro culture."

In media and scholarship, "dudebro" is used to describe characters or real-world groups that exemplify hypermasculine behavior, often as a critique of toxic masculinity or as a social trope within college life and youth culture. Some people adopt the label self-consciously in a satirical or ironic way, or to critique its characteristics. The term is sometimes used descriptively without a strongly negative connotation, depending on speaker intent and context.

Criticism of the dudebro stereotype centers on its tendency to reinforce gender stereotypes, heterosexual normativity, and exclusionary behavior, while recognizing that real-life masculine identities are diverse. It is often discussed as part of broader conversations about toxic masculinity, gender dynamics, and the culture surrounding male peer groups and social life.

Overall, dudebro functions as a lighthearted descriptor in some contexts and a critical shorthand in others, reflecting debates about masculinity in contemporary Western youth culture.