History Main / SissyVillain

* Dongha from ''Webcomic/WeakHero''. As opposed to his partner-in-crime Seongmok, who's quiet and extremely buff, Dongha has long, luscious hair, [[LeanAndMean an equally long build]], and giggles madly with every sentence.

The Sissy Villain is probably the second most common portrayal of CampGay [[AcceptableTargets men]] (besides "one-dimensional joke character") but is not necessarily synonymous with DepravedHomosexual. While Sissy Villains are frequently [[DepravedHomosexual gay]] or [[DepravedBisexual bisexual]], most of them are merely [[AmbiguouslyGay sexually ambiguous]] or [[{VillainousAromanticAsexual seemingly asexual]], and some of them are [[CampStraight straight]]. The Sissy Villain isn't intended to creep out the audience just because of the implication that he might like men (although this occasionally factors in), but because he ''acts'' like a real wimp. Either way, he's AlwaysCamp.

The Sissy Villain is probably the second most common portrayal of CampGay [[AcceptableTargets men]] (besides "one-dimensional joke character") but is not necessarily synonymous with DepravedHomosexual. While Sissy Villains are frequently [[DepravedHomosexual gay]] or [[DepravedBisexual bisexual]], most of them are merely [[AmbiguouslyGay sexually ambiguous]] or [[{{Asexuality}} seemingly asexual]], and some of them are [[CampStraight straight]]. The Sissy Villain isn't intended to creep out the audience just because of the implication that he might like men (although this occasionally factors in), but because he ''acts'' like a real wimp. Either way, he's AlwaysCamp.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{TheJungleBook1967}}'': Downplayed with Shere Khan. He's a genuinely feared predator of the jungle (he's mentioned as being stronger than the entire wolf pack combined) but his wrather is hidden by an amusingly flamboyant, playful and soft-spoken demeanor. Averted in [[WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook2 the sequel]], where he's much more serious.

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* Mr. Jones in Joseph Conrad's ''Victory'' is the murderous, amoral ringleader of a group of bandits, and is described as a foppish, homosexual dandy. In spite of (or perhaps because of) his effeminacy, he also [[EffeminateMisogynisticGuy hates women]] and doesn't tolerate their presence.

* Hardcore, one of ComicBook/{{Luke Cage|HeroForHire}}'s enemies from the nineties, wore a purple outfit, appeared to be wearing red lipstick in some of his appearances, and constantly quoted poetry. One of his weapons was also a hyper-sharpened fingernail.

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!!Examples:

* SissyVillain/{{Film}}

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** Disney's human villains aren't immune either. Take ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}''[='s=] mincing, flouncing, bow-wearing villain Governor Ratcliffe, for one. Most of that façade was forced on him by his assistant, Wiggins, who was extremely effeminate. Ratcliffe had his boisterous and rowdy side on occasion, though it was often just an act as well, when his men stood up to him, he folded.

Due to [[DoubleStandard social stigmas]] against [[InTouchWithHisFeminineSide male femininity]] and "unmanliness", there's a strong tendency in fiction to assign effeminate traits to villains: flamboyant mannerisms, delicate voices, light builds, prissiness, [[APrettyBoyIndex femininely pretty]] looks, [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness grandiloquent]] [[BreakThemByTalking speeches]], {{giggling|Villain}}, [[WickedCultured love for poetry and opera]], [[ManOfWealthAndTaste impeccable fashion sense]] ([[CreepyCrossdresser not always in men's clothing]]), fondness for [[RightHandCat Persian cats]], etc. Evil, it seems, is swishier than a silk skirt.

* Lord Pumphrey, a.k.a "Pumps" in ''Literature/{{Sharpe}}''. Variously known as "the molly," "that woman," and believed to have [[FoeYay a crush on the hero.]] He is also one of the most effective {{Manipulative Bastard}}s in the series, even mocking Sharpe to his face when confronted. He is, thus far, a well-earned KarmaHoudini.

* Valentine Wolfe, evil space aristocrat junkie extraordinaire, from the ''Literature/{{Deathstalker}}'' books. He's more outrageously decadent than feminine, but he does wear makeup and have a rather {{camp}} way of expressing himself at times, while remaining an absolute unholy terror in the highest echelons of the DeadlyDecadentCourt.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: The rather effeminate kreel Emperor of [[TheEmpire the Sangtee Empire]] turns out to be [[spoiler: a woman who is forced to pass as a man in public due to her society but does not ''want to'' and overrules the laws that require it following her confrontation with Wondy which she seems to use as an excuse]]. The governor of the Empire capitol ship the final confrontation occurs on is also rather campy with his ornate robes, gestures, and preference for walking about in open nightgowns, but is the ''least'' antagonistic of the Empire's nobles, save his giddiness at getting to witness tortures and executions ordered by his Emperor, and is mostly a villain by proxy due to his position.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: The rather effeminate kreel Emperor of [[TheEmpire the Sangtee Empire]] turns out to be [[spoiler: a woman who is forced to pass as a man in public due to her society but does not ''want to'' and overrules the laws that require it following her confrontation with Wondy which she seems to use as an excuse]]. The governor of the Empire capitol ship the final confrontation occurs on is also rather campy with his ornate robes, gestures, and preference for walking about in open nightgowns, but is the ''least'' antagonistic of the Empire's nobles, save his giddiness at getting to witness tortures and executions ordered by his Emperor, and is mostly a villain by proxy due to his position.

Due to [[DoubleStandard social stigmas]] against male femininity and "unmanliness", there's a strong tendency in fiction to assign effeminate traits to villains: flamboyant mannerisms, delicate voices, light builds, prissiness, [[APrettyBoyIndex femininely pretty]] looks, [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness grandiloquent]] [[BreakThemByTalking speeches]], {{giggling|Villain}}, [[WickedCultured love for poetry and opera]], [[ManOfWealthAndTaste impeccable fashion sense]] ([[CreepyCrossdresser not always in men's clothing]]), fondness for [[RightHandCat Persian cats]], etc. Evil, it seems, is swishier than a silk skirt.

** From ''Literature/TheTalesOfDunkAndEgg'' we get... [[SubvertedTrope Daemon Blackfyre II]]. On paper, he's this trope: heads a rebellion that would see Egg and his side of the family dead if it succeeds, has a very TransparentCloset, enjoys dressing up in an overly rich "[[PaperThinDisguise disguise]]" a smidge too much and is about as accomplished martially as your average bag of marshmallows. But... he's not much of a villain (malicious and cruel he isn't; somewhat boorish is the most he manages) and he is ''definitely'' no mastermind. Those would be his "followers" using him. He pays the price for playing the Game, regardless.

Frequently, TheHero pitted against the Sissy Villain is either a manly man (any [[RealMenWearPink feminine traits he has are merely there to underscore his masculinity]]) or a {{tomboy}} and making the villain "unmasculine" is intended to emphasize this. After all, [[BrokenAesop there's nothing manlier]] [[LogicalFallacies than beating up a sissy]]. It doesn't even matter that [[AgentPeacock the limp-wristed villain is powerful]], he '''looks''' weak and homosexual and that's what matters.

Frequently, TheHero pitted against the Sissy Villain is an old-fashioned Manly Man (any [[RealMenWearPink feminine traits he has are merely there to underscore his masculinity]]) and making the villain "unmasculine" is intended to emphasize this. After all, [[BrokenAesop there's nothing manlier]] [[LogicalFallacies than beating up a sissy]]. It doesn't even matter that [[AgentPeacock the limp-wristed villain is powerful]], he '''looks''' weak and homosexual and that's what matters.

The Sissy Villain is probably the second most common portrayal of CampGay [[AcceptableTargets men]] (besides "one-dimensional joke character"), but is not necessarily synonymous with DepravedHomosexual. While Sissy Villains are frequently [[DepravedHomosexual gay]] or [[DepravedBisexual bisexual]], most of them are merely [[AmbiguouslyGay sexually ambiguous]] or [[{{Asexuality}} seemingly asexual]], and some of them are [[CampStraight straight]]. The Sissy Villain isn't intended to creep out the audience just because of the implication that he might like men (although this occasionally factors in), but because he ''acts'' like a real wimp. Either way, he's AlwaysCamp.

There is a weird bit of irony to this: regardless of what the villain looks or acts like, EvilIsCool, and these villains (assuming they're worth their salt) will wreak just as much havoc as any other archetype. So, overexposure to this trope may lead kids to see this personality as badass in its own way, even leading boys to imitate their behaviour and mannerisms.

Sissy Villains show up frequently in anime, where they often have [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white hair]]. Two common subtropes are CreepyCrossdresser and EunuchsAreEvil. See also FashionVictimVillain, GorgeousGeorge, DepravedHomosexual, DepravedBisexual, and PsychoLesbian. May sometimes overlap with [[HeManWomanHater misogynistic]] [[StrawMisogynist views]] in the context of the EffeminateMisogynisticGuy. Contrast RealMenWearPink, and occasionally, EvilSoundsDeep. When his ambiguous (nor not so ambiguous) sexuality is PlayedForLaughs, that's QueerPeopleAreFunny. Not to be confused with NonActionBigBad, although they can overlap. If the villain in question is either {{Satan}} himself, or one of his minions, he's a FlamingDevil.

* Mr. Jones in Joseph Conrad's ''Victory'' is the ringleader of a group of bandits, and is described as a foppish, homosexual dandy. In spite of (or perhaps because of) his effeminacy, he also [[EffeminateMisogynisticGuy hates women]] and doesn't tolerate their presence.

-->'''Marik:''' Foolish fools! There are no women in ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' There are only extremely girly men. ''And I am the most girly of them all!''\\

This trope shows up mainly in Western works and those Japanese works aimed at a male audience; if the villain is presented as [[{{Bishonen}} certain kinds]] [[WhiteHairBlackHeart of swishy]], [[MisaimedFandom female fans]] are likely to declare him [[DracoInLeatherPants utterly fabulous]].

!!Example subpages:

!!Other examples:

* Mr. Jones in Joseph Conrad's ''Victory'' qualifies as this trope, as well as {{Effeminate Misogynistic Guy}}. Jones is the ringleader of a group of bandits, and is described as a foppish, homosexual dandy. In spite of (or perhaps because of) his effeminacy, he also hates women and doesn't tolerate their presence.

* Mr. Jones in Joseph Conrad's ''Victory'' qualifies as this trope, as well as {{EffeminateMisogynisticGuy}}. Jones is the ringleader of a group of bandits, and is described as a foppish, homosexual dandy. In spite of (or perhaps because of) his effeminacy, he also hates women and doesn't tolerate their presence.