Wokefishing
Pretending to have progressive political views
Example
I went out with this guy Bill who said he was an SJW 12 times in his profile ... I should've known he was wokefishing
Related Slang
Woke | Aware of social issues |
Catfish | To assume a false identity |
Clout chaser | A person who does things just to become popular |
Performative activist | A person who acts like an activist just to gain social standing |
SJW | Social Justice Warrior |
Blackfishing | Pretending to be ethnically Black |
Get woke | Become aware of social issues |
Virtue signaling | Demonstrating moral superiority |
Cancel culture | Canceling people who do anything controversial |
Wokefishing is the act of pretending to hold progressive political views, typically to attract potential dates on online dating apps. It is a portmanteau of woke, which means "to be aware of social issues," and catfishing, which is the act of assuming a false identity.
Where does wokefishing come from?
In July 2020, writer Serena Smith published a VICE.com article titled Have You Been 'Wokefished' While Dating? Here's How to Tell. In the article, Smith defined wokefishing as being "when people masquerade as holding progressive political views to ensnare potential partners." Smith went on to detail her own and others' encounters with wokefishing. According to Smith, wokefishing's prevalence has increased as social injustices become more apparent and important to more people.
How is wokefishing used?
Wokefishing can be used to describe any instance in which a person (typically a man) pretends to be progressive to snag a date or chase clout. Wokefishing is similar to performative activism, but is more often performed on a 1-to-1 basis.