A controversial concept from the incel community is going viral across social media as people debate the ethics of "state-mandated girlfriends."

The idea of government-mandated girlfriends has been spreading as a meme for at least a decade now, but some people are concerned that incels are starting to take the idea a little too seriously.

So, what is a "state-mandated girlfriend" and why is the idea so controversial? Here's what you need to know.

What Is A 'State-Mandated Girlfriend'?

The concept of state-mandated girlfriends comes from the incel community and emerged online as early as 2016. A state-mandated or government-issued girlfriend is a woman assigned to an involuntarily celibate and lonely man to cure their loneliness, depression and antisocial behavior.

This concept is largely satirical, dystopian and is referenced as a meme more so than an actual, realistic desire from the incel community.

However, as the idea has spread online throughout the 2010s and 2020s, some people are concerned that the concept is becoming less satirical.

Controversial figure and Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson even went viral in 2018 for suggesting that "enforced monogamy" could help cure the so-called "male loneliness epidemic." Peterson later claimed that he was not talking about assigning men girlfriends and was taken out of context.

How Are 'State-Mandated Girlfriends' Used In Memes?

Memes about state-mandated girlfriends started going viral on sites like Reddit and X / Twitter as early as 2018, picking up again more recently.

Some early memes include drawings of state-mandated girlfriends surrounded by a list of their positive traits. Others include things like Political Compass memes.

In September 2026, a Wojak meme showing a government worker bringing an incel his state-mandated girlfriend went viral on X, reigniting discussions and memes about the topic on social media.

This meme inspired a wave of discourse about the idea of the state-mandated girlfriend, with some believing that the idea is moving from satirical territory to a genuinely desired concept.

Many of the most popular reactions to the meme have been negative, calling the concept misogynistic for treating women like mere tools to help cure men's depression.

Some are also pointing out how much more attractive the woman in the meme is drawn than the man, claiming that incel men think they're entitled to a beautiful girlfriend, but don't want to put in the effort to find one.

What Are Some More 'State-Mandated Girlfriend' Memes?

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For the full history of State-Mandated Girlfriends, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.