the shock element surely plays a part, the cumulative millions of words describing male pregnancy in detail on AO3, not to mention other fanfiction sites, is evidence that the rabbit hole must go deeper.

On the one hand, there is the obviously sexual element to the male pregnancy kink, the “breeding” aspect. “Blaise looked to Harry’s flat belly. It would look gorgeous rounded and ripe with his children. He growled in pleasure and wrapped his arms more firmly around Harry,” reads one of the most popular fics in the mpreg tag, “The Rise of the Drackens” by StarLight_Massacre. The anticipation part of many fics prior to the sex itself highlights the arousal triggered by the idea of sex that leads to pregnancy. This includes the physicality and sensuality of pregnancy itself, the imagery of a pregnant man’s belly eroticized. But the mpreg kink extends beyond the moment of conception, into childbirth and beyond. While the fantasy of building a family is often tied to the impregnation itself, it also exists as a separate, non-sexual dream as it does for many people in the real world. Within A/B/O, the animalistic is particularly central, as having children extends beyond a personal desire into a physical need for reproduction like in the animal world. The central fantasy may only be consummated once the family has reached fruition, once the Alpha has children to protect, the Omega children to provide for. 

A/B/O’s obsession with these gendered, animalistic dynamics are an interesting counterpoint to the other most popular use of the worlds “Alpha” and “Omega”: “Alpha Male” culture, led by influencers such as Andrew Tate and the men of the “Fresh and Fit” podcast. These men preach the necessity for young men to embody “alpha” male characteristics: dominance, lack of sensitivity, and control over female partners, who are ideally submissive homemakers. For women, there are “tradwife” influencers, women who believe that other must return to their “natural” roles as mothers and housewives to be truly fulfilled. Asides from the animalistic pheromones, Alphas and Omegas of A/B/O seem to fit these archetypes perfectly, with the key difference of men taking the mothering role. 

Another key element to the world of A/B/O I have neglected to mention up to now is the specifically heterosexual female fascination with mpreg. With the rise of the internet, “fujoshi” culture, women who fetishize gay male relationships, is bigger than ever. The phenomenon may originate in Japan, with the publication of “yaoi” (gay male mangas) giving rise to the term since at least the 1990s. A common tendency within content aimed towards or enjoyed by fujoshis is the infantilization of gay men, a focus on innocent first loves and repressed crushes. Just in recent years, we’ve seen the explosive popularity of shows like Heartstopper, Yuri on Ice, and Skam. All feature will-they-won’t-they style romantic drama that hit on all the usual beats, with a healthy dose of internalized homophobia and peer bullying.

Why is it that so many straight women are captivated by the stories of gay men? One theory is that soft gay men represent the polar opposite of typical patriarchal expectations for straight men, expectations that often lead to misogynistic violence. In yaoi, men are loving, caring, sensitive, and willing to apologize, qualities which groups like the “alpha males” may firmly reject, but which many (if not most) straight women desire in a partner. A/B/O and mpreg, then, take this fantasy to its logical limit, allowing men to both inhabit the typically masculine dominant role as well as the submissive, caring, mothering role. In a world of increasingly complicated gender dynamics, A/B/O creates a space where our personalities, desires, and needs are primal and intrinsic. Alphas and Omegas do not get into “situationships,” do not need to worry about who should pay the bill, whether or not the guy they matched with on tinder only wants emotionless sex. An Alpha or an Omega practically only needs to smell or touch the person they’ve just met in order to know they’re the one, know they are guaranteed a secure future of familial bliss.

In a post-sexual revolution world, where the success of feminism lies on unsteady footing, the popularity of the A/B/O fantasy is intriguing. On the surface, it seems totally counter to decades of feminist thought, imposing strict, regressive, gendered hierarchies onto the world, where the submissive partner becomes the property of the dominant one. On the other hand, the current state of romantics is undeniably bleak. Between dating apps, hookup culture, and increasing societal alienation, simplistic fantasy may provide a respite. After all, it’s hard to believe that those invested in A/B/O actually want to embody these dynamics in the real world. In fact, many fanfics actually tackle how gender discrimination and oppression might operate within its world. Since male/female dynamics no longer rule the world, this means that men, too, can experience discrimination, another reason why women might find this world so compelling.