“Marriage is slavery,” that’s the thesis of a viral TikTok video that’s causing a stir online, prompting strong reactions on the ever more apparent “cultural divide.”
MJ Gray, a self-described “supermodel billionaire” based in Texas, didn’t mince words in her clip, pleading with women to reject the institution of marriage altogether, and framing it as a historical tool of female oppression.
“Marriage was the act of making women property,” she said, comparing it to the practice of the arranged marriages of the past. “Marriage was the property transfer of a woman between her father and her husband. Regardless of how you feel about it, that's the fact.”
Her marriage rant resonated with a large segment of her audience, part of a growing wave of content some are dubbing the “red pill for women.”
A video of a model warning women not to get married goes viral amid wave of “red pill content”
Image credits: mjgray__
In stark contrast to the traditional “red pill” content aimed at men—which paints women as hypergamous and untrustworthy—Gray’s video echoes the inverse: men are portrayed as inherently controlling and likely to diminish women’s independence and potential.
“There’s a reason women have been socially conditioned to believe that if we’re not married or chosen by a man, we’re worthless,” the model continued. “I relish the idea of being single. I do not want to have any children.”
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Gray then confidently states, “The reason why you see divorce rates rise is because women finally have agency over whether or not we stay in these marriages,” a claim that contradicts official US Census data.
“From 2008 to 2022, the national divorce rate declined from just over 10.0 to about 7.0,” a 2024 report informs.
This, however, doesn’t mean that the institution has become any more popular, as the same paper recognizes that marriage rates have stagnated during the same period.
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Regardless of data, her message resonated deeply with her viewers.
“As a happily married woman I can still say… you’re not wrong,” one wrote.
“I’m married, and actually love my marriage, but I agree with you. It’s actually dangerous unless the person is your best friend,” another replied.
Both male and female versions of the “red pill” come to a similar conclusion: the opposite sex is not to be trusted
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While some outlets have praised Gray’s perspective as empowering and liberating, critics have pointed out the irony that both the male and female versions of the “red pill” ideology ultimately land in the same place: total skepticism of marriage and deep distrust of the opposite sex.
According to research conducted by the University of Pompeu Fabra in Spain, this phenomenon comes as the result of the way social media and the internet promote and reward certain types of content, creating “echo chambers” along the way due to an excessive focus on approval metrics.
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“These platforms make it easy for consumers to signal their approval. Thumbs up! Heart! Retweet! But there’s no thumbs down,” Elizaveta Konovalova, who worked with the researchers, wrote.
“The implications are clear—the design of some of the most popular social media platforms reward extreme opinions, in the absence of a ‘dislike’ option.”
Platforms such as YouTube also reward comments with the most “likes,” putting them front and center while at the same time hiding controversial or nuanced statements.
Researchers explain the growing divide is the direct result of the way social media rewards certain types of content
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According to Konovalova, the phenomenon may actually be detrimental to those it claims to represent.
“Our work implies that social media feedback mechanisms encourage messages of hate and prejudice to remain and to be shared,” she explained.
“Because objections to these extreme opinions are relatively obscured, both the creators and victims see a skewed version of reality.”
Social media’s algorithmic incentives reward extremism, and voices like Gray’s rise to prominence in the same way that controversial male influencers like Andrew Tate have—by presenting personal liberation as a binary, all-or-nothing battle between the sexes.
Image credits: mjgray__
On one side, men are being told to “never settle down,” and that women are constantly on the lookout for a more financially stable, taller, more powerful partner, regardless of how noble and caring they are.
Women, on the other hand, are warned to “never marry” because men will control them, take away their ability to make their own decisions, develop, and lead a fulfilling life.
Beyond the internet, this phenomenon has translated into a measurable ideological divide in countries such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and South Korea.
According to a 2024 poll by the Survey Center on American Life, women have become increasingly liberal since 2010, while men have either remained stable in their views or become more conservative depending on the country.
"Final boss feminism." Grey's video was a resounding success among her audience
