Beta

a person who tends to follow rather than lead; deferrential to authority, soft-spoken, gentle, receptive, observant

Beta as applied to humans is copied from descriptions of hierarchy in groups of animals. For example, wolves and dogs, cows, chickens, sheep and a plethora of other animals all form groups that have a dynamic structure concerning leadership, resource distribution, and role assignments. The leader of such a group would be referred to as the Alpha, associated with power and charisma. Beta, then, came about as a word to refer to those who follow the Alpha of the group. Beta and Alpha define each other as necessary opposites. Betas are not Alphas, therefore, they are associated with submission and powerlessness. Coding Alpha and Beta qualities as good and bad respectively have long been popular, especially in societies where a select few reap the most benefit, such as capitalist societies (like ours). However, recent years have represented a rise in social consciousness of the attractiveness of Betas, who, though not rich and powerful, are certainly more readily available (how many CEOs do you know?), often more emotionally available, and actively attempt to respect people and defer to their right to be themselves.

Are Betas Bad?

Consider, for example, the well-dressed, rich, and powerful Fortune 500 company CEO who drives fast cars (or builds them and shoots them into space, or something)1, versus the scruffy, barely-employed househusbando/waifu who will cook your meals and grudgingly take out the trash when you tell them. Now obviously, from an economic or resource-based point of view, association with the CEO is more desirable because they can support dependents living lavish lifestyles. On the other hand, there’s a chance that goofy guy, gal, or nonbinary pal you are involved with actually loves you and you have a meaningful life together. In conclusion, sure, the CEO is sugar daddy(/mommy) material; but the house-spouse is definitely baby daddy(/mommy) material.2

Are Betas Good?

The best example of a positive view of Beta in recent years appears in the 2022 movie Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. Though Michelle Yeoh is the star of the show, Ke Huy Quan as Waymond Wang is the one we want to pay attention to here. Waymond is kooky, kind, clueless, and kind of useless too. When multiversal enemies come knocking, Beta Waymond takes a backseat and its up to Alpha Waymond from the Alphaverse to save the day. At the end of the day though, Alpha Waymond didn’t talk down the auditor by being nice and bribing her with cookies, he didn’t save Evelyn Wang’s relationship with her daughter either: Beta Waymond did those things. Everything, Everywhere, All At Once explores the power and powerlessness of Betas, and it challenges the ways that Beta and Alpha roles have been assigned and enforced by sex and race. If you wanted to take a second to rethink the conceptions that society has enforced on you about the power of Betas, maybe watch this film.

Credit:

Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. Directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Performances by Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan. Distributed by A24, 2022.

Tony is a student at SCC. They are actively trying to be nice to people.

Page updated

Report abuse