Men don't have women idols because it isn't a socially bonding identity in male spaces. Men who like Matt Mercer or Brennan Lee Mulligan find a sense of gender affirmation in liking them alongside other men.
Whereas women can affirm their gender socially with other women through having non-sexual male idols, the Bill Nye Girls, Jerma women, the Matt Mercer/Brennan women. Women will bond with other women over shared identity in male idolship. Men do not show the same deference. You don't see men bonding over "wanting to meet Aabria Iyengar" because it isn't an identity aspect for them. It doesn't socially pack bond them to other men in their niche.
And this is why women who are as good or better than men in their niche will never reach the same levels of ubiquity or popularity. Men do not masculinely identify through having women idols.
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Caveat to this, Gay men do socially bond with other gay men over women pop divas. It's a common-idol identity. Bonding over women idols affirms a shared gay identity.
This in mind, what does this say about men in nerd spaces?
Welcome to my Ted Talk on why I find Critical Role fans insufferable.
