Memes

The ‘Women In Male Fields’ meme is paving the way for women to behave just as toxically as men

breaking the glass ceiling that is my iphone xox

Photo of Rebecca Leib

Rebecca Leib

Woman in tree with text that says 'when he accuses me of talking to other guys (I am) so I hit him with 'whatever I'm always the bad guy.' #womeninmalefields'(l), Woman in bed with headphones and sunglasses with text that says 'when I have the irrational fear of being use for money, I don't have #womeninmalefields'(r)

The Women in Male Fields meme and TikTok trend are ironic videos or stills of women recounting their participation in habits or actions associated with bad male behavior, concluding with the catchphrase, #womaninmalefields.

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A woman in a leopard coat smiling, with the caption 'I'm not looking for a relationship but down to chill #Womeninmalefields'
@brooksnader/TikTok

Meme basics:

  • Meme Creator@RealPattyWap
  • Meme Type: catchphrase, ironic
  • First Appearance: May 17th, 2023
  • Origin Source: X
  • Used to convey: satire, women’s empowerment, ironic humor
  • Peak Popularity: Nov. 2024
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A TikTok video of a woman in her car, smiling at the camera, with the caption 'He sent me a paragraph explaining how I felt...etc. #Womeninmalefields'
@Eviemarieee/TikTok

What is the Women in Male Fields meme?

The Women in Male Fields meme involves a woman recording herself in a familiar space (be it an office, a car, her home, etc.). Over this visual is a text caption of a personal anecdote, illustrating actions or habits that are stereotypically associated with “bad” male behavior. Often a sped-up version of Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda serves as the soundtrack to these videos and memes, and all include the hashtag, #womaninmalefields.

A TikTok video of a doctor in her scrubs, working on a computer. The caption is about a man being mistaken for a nurse in the hospital, ending with #Womeninmalefields
@residebt/TikTok
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What does the Women in Male Fields meme mean?

The Women in Male Fields meme seeks to turn bad male behavior on its head, putting the women in the position of enacting poor, sexist, and insensitive choices but doing so under the guise of being “trailblazing,” and brave—integrating themselves into a “field” that was traditionally dominated by men: being bad people, daters and partners.

A TikTok video of a woman in her car, smiling, 'when he brings up something I lied about...etc. #Womeninmalefields'
@lizandeddie/TikTok

The meme’s language (the hashtag and catchphrase) is a satirical play on corporate diversity and inclusion rhetoric, including the inferred congratulatory tone around women who have “broken into” these male-dominated spaces.

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A TikTok video of a woman in workout clothes, with the caption 'If I'm so bad why u with me then...etc. #Womeninmalefields'
@milliegshields/TikTok

Origin and spread

One of the earliest instances of “I love seeing women in male dominated fields” being used as a joke was on March 19, 2022, when X user @RealPattyWap used it to reference parallel parking.

In Body Image
@milliegshields/TikTok
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Cultural context

This meme is a reaction to a patriarchal culture that rewards men for bad behavior, and a “failing upwards” culture. These posts’ specificity and pointedness are a clear message to the recent rise of conservatism both socially and politically: women can be just as bad, and it feels kind of…good?

A TikTok video of a woman walking smiling, 'he grabbed my phone...etc. #Womeninmalefields'
@builtbyangiec/TikTok

Male backlash to #WomenInMaleFields: #meninfemalefields

Taking back these male toxic tropes didn’t feel good for everyone. In mid-November 2024, some men on TikTok began reacting to this trend, reversing it yet again to comment on women’s stereotypically bad behavior. In these posts, male TikTok users will use #meninfemalefields to enact habits that they think are toxically feminine.

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A man looking into the camera with the caption 'Can't remember how many people I've slept with...ending with hashtag meninfemalefields
@kane._8/TikTok

This meme and trend continues to give hilarious, specific and cutting commentary on the state of male behavior, inspiring women all over the world to break that glass ceiling, smash the patriarchy, and of course, integrate into traditionally male spaces (even the bad ones). #womeninmalefields.

@builtbyangiec I got plenty of content with this trend 😮‍💨 dont get me started 🤣 #womeninmaledominatingfields #womeninmalefields #womeninmalefield ♬ dat anaconduhh sound bb – nueruuu
A TikTok video of a woman in her car, with the caption 'he told me to unfollow the body builder insta models and I said fine i'd just delete the whole app. #Womeninmalefields'
@anettaberi/TikTok
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https://twitter.com/mxniquejade_/status/1858869223939829869
@anettaberi/TikTok
@jordan.rand Like what!? #bi #bisexual #biwomen #bitok #lgbtq #wlw #fyp #womeninmalefields ♬ dat anaconduhh sound bb – nueruuu
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