Ja, dersom man skal lette etter rasjonale for en vilkårlig filosofi i dyrs oppførsel, vil man sikkert finne det dersom man leter, men det fordrer også at man ignorerer alle eksemplene på det motsatte.
Det er en disneyfisering av det komplekse.
Det er også interessant å merke seg at mange av dyrene man tradisjonelt tenkte på som gode eksempler på patriarki som naturlig (som fks. ulven), hovedsakelig utviser denne oppførselen i fangenskap med alle de menneskelige konstruksjonene det innebærer.
[...]I explored how mythology flattens both wolves and women, casting them as threats when they refuse to conform. Individuality, autonomy, and noncompliance become traits to suppress, manage, or punish.
The modern myths surrounding masculinity, especially the “alpha male”, emerge from similar storytelling.
Rooted in the fear of vulnerability and a desire for control.
And just like the myths that shape perceptions of wolves and women, these ideals come at a cost, one most often paid by women, marginalized communities, and wolves.
The “alpha male” has long dominated modern Western imagination, not just as a pack leader, but as a personality blueprint, a box, for men.
From TikTok to dating apps to Reddit threads, the myth persists: that true masculinity means dominance, detachment, and power. That to be a man is to conquer, subdue, and never apologize.
The archetype of the “alpha male” was born out of flawed studies on captive wolves observed in artificial conditions not conducive to natural behavior.
These studies were not just inaccurate; they served a more insidious purpose, adding a type of confirmation bias to justify patriarchal norms.
It's laughable (not in a funny way, but in an incredulous one) that a billion-dollar masculinity industry has been built on the backbone of a myth.
Men who seek power through domination are pawns in a greater patriarchal capitalist scheme, one in which only a select few actually benefit.
Wild wolf packs are not, in fact, ruled by aggressive alpha males.
They are family groups, usually led by a breeding pair, with the alpha female often playing the most critical role in pack dynamics.
Rick McIntyre, who has spent decades observing Yellowstone wolves, challenges many assumptions about power and hierarchy. Through watching Yellowstone’s famous 06 and her descendants, he noted that female wolves are not passive; they are the matriarchs whose leadership ultimately defines the trajectory of a pack.