TRENDS
What does ‘rat boy summer’ mean? What is a ‘rodent boyfriend’? New type of handsome explained
‘Rat boy summer’ and the ‘rodent boyfriend’ trend explained... the features that place someone in this category.
The new viral trend of TikTok is ‘rat boy summer,’ a concept similar to ‘hot girl summer’ and ‘short king spring.’ The difference is that this time, the rat boys are getting their moment in the spotlight. Though the trend aims to give some love to men with less conventionally attractive features, the celebrities listed often include men who are rodent-like or not would be considered attractive. For instance, the Bears’s Jeremy Allen White and Succession’s Kieran Culkin are just two examples of men commonly listed who would have no trouble in the dating market.
So, what is a rat boy? Well, according to those who have posted about the trend, it describes a type of man that is lankier than most, with sunken eyes and angular facial features. These more rodent-like features are what Gen-Z are going crazy for online. Other celebrities in this category include actors Timothee Chalamet, Tom Holland, and The 1975′s frontman Matt Healy.
While many people find these men attractive, their features do not always fit conventional standards of male beauty. Many don’t have a big muscular frame, for instance. Betsy Reed at The Guardian pointed out that though the trend is mostly harmless, all of the examples given are of white celebrities.