It’s Time to Take Back the Red Pill

You probably already know that the concept of the “red pill” espoused by many in the “manosphere” was taken from The Matrix films. If you aren’t already familiar with any or all of the above, I highly suggest you check out this Wikipedia entry before reading the rest of this article.

Suffice it to say that men who follow the ideologies encompassed by “hegemonic masculinity” use the red pill metaphor to denote an “awakening” to what they consider “reality.” Their version of reality is one populated by “malicious and malevolent” women and their “beta male” accomplices who seek to undermine traditional manhood as part of some insidious “feminist agenda.” In their cosmology, women and men are bound by our biology so rigidly that we are merely the sum of our imperatives to procreate. In the mythology of their extreme form of biological essentialism, human beings are nothing more than self-aware animals, unable to rise above our instincts.

Like any other ideology, this vision of reality seeks to provide solace, direction, purpose, and meaning to people who feel lost. Unfortunately, hegemonic masculinity is one of those ideologies that takes the simplistic route of scapegoating a demonized “other.” Rather than encouraging men to do the hard work of self-reflection and subsequent self-improvement, hegemonic masculinity (or what I’ve referred to in the past as the Cult of Machismo) attempts to soothe followers’ fears and doubts by laying the blame on an artificial boogeyman (in this case, “conniving” women and their “weak male sycophants,” commonly called “simps”).

The Real Meaning of the Red Pill

Like the agents in The Matrix, men trapped in the Cult of Machismo want to protect a system; in this case, that system is hegemonic masculinity, and its associated dogma that dictates a specific set of ways to “be a real man.” Ironically, these duped men don’t realize that much of the social pressure they feel to live up to a constrictive set of rules for manhood is most often inflicted upon them by other men, not a nebulous cabal of “evil feminists.”

The followers of hegemonic masculinity have absconded with the red pill metaphor, totally removing it from the larger context of the rest of The Matrix film. Namely, they ignore what the main character Neo does after he takes the red pill. Yes, the reason Neo takes the red pill is because he senses there’s something wrong with reality. He instinctively feels his world is a lie, and only serves to enslave him and every other human being.

As a student of the heroic mindset, I believe in questioning the status quo of society in order to bring about positive change. However, issues arise if one forgets what Neo does after his awakening. Perhaps he does initially take the red pill to free only himself from the unreality of the Matrix. But, crucially, that action allows him to realize his awakening comes with a moral responsibility to free the rest of humanity from the Matrix as well. This is wisdom that comes with self-reflection, especially after he meets with a character called The Oracle, who encourages Neo to “know thyself.”

By contrast, the twisted interpretation of the red pill offered by the manosphere seeks only to aggrandize the self, encouraging adherents to smugly congratulate themselves on being smarter than most other people. If they do seek to bestow their dubious worldview on other men, it’s usually at significant cost, in terms of money as well as the energy and time required to walk the precarious tightrope of their version of masculinity.

Neo and the Altruistic Risk of Heroism

To reiterate: Neo didn’t keep his new awareness to himself, nor did he seek to only give the gift of his wisdom to a select few individuals. Therefore, he joins countless other heroic figures in the realization that elevation of the self must be balanced by service to others. After all, what is the individual without the community, or the community without the unique contributions of each individual?

This is a major lesson of the hero’s journey: true self-actualization and well-being isn’t just about freeing yourself from the crushing weight of self-doubt and the expectations of stifling conformity; it also includes doing the same for everyone else around you.

Taking the red pill didn’t give Neo the right to drop out of society for the purpose of becoming “superior” to everyone else. It actually required him to look beyond himself, and strive to be of service to humanity. That’s what heroism is fundamentally about: the belief that other people are worth saving. It’s about putting some proverbial skin in the game—also known as altruistic risk—to freely give something of yourself for the sake of others.

It’s Time for Some Heroic Masculinity

Don’t be duped by those peddling a distorted and, ultimately, incomplete version of the red pill. They are most likely using it to enforce a cult of personality to gain followers and fortune. Unfortunately, there are too many people trying to turn men’s uncertainty into profit. Don’t contort yourself to fit someone else’s interpretation of masculinity out of fear and coercion.

Rather, it’s time for some heroic masculinity. Take the real red pill, and free yourself from outside expectations of what it means to be a man. Instead, be your own man. You can be independent, strong, and successful without belittling and stepping on others. In the long run, balancing self-work with an open mind toward others is a self-sustaining path to success, belonging, and meaning.

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