What is "bro code"?

[TERFCat]

I'm not looking for sarcastic responses to this; I'm genuinely interested.

Obviously, no woman really knows what men are saying about us when we're not around. None of us are privy to "locker room talk" or "bro code" generally. However, as it does get mentioned on here and other woman-focused places, I'd like to better understand what this actually means? What are the rules of bro code? What happens if you break it?

I'm autistic BTW, which may explain my interest in this.

Anyone?

I don't have a clue, and tbh you'd need to ask a man who thinks he's a "bro" to explain what he thinks "bro code" is. I cannot recall ever seeing this phrase talked about in the feminism section. It sounds like a US import and it sounds misogynistic and stereotyped. That's my initial reaction.

My (male) partner doesn't know what it is either.

I agree with @fedupandstuck on all points.
OP, maybe ask on Chat? You might get more responses there.

I think it’s where a man has done something his partner would’ve approve of and his mates agree to keep quiet about it. This could be anything from fancying someone to a full blown affair. Bro code means you don’t judge, keep his secret and have his back, even if that means being having to tell lies to maintain the narrative.

That’s my understanding anyway.

Opposite of girl code. Couldn't get worked up about it.

What is "girl code"?

Locker room talk is all in the open now - just look on Twitter.

Bro code is women don't mean anything. Men are important. You don't wreck things for a guy and especially not over a woman / to benefit a woman.

But I'm not a bro so what do I know.

What is "girl code" please?

Yes, this is what I generally understand it to mean, but I am hoping for more detail/ explanation.

You don't shag your mates' siblings or exes. Or that's what my brother and his mates seemed to hold as sacred in their teens and early twenties.

I’m a man and I have no idea what ‘bro code’ is.
From a casual Google it sounds like something teenage boys would think sounded ‘cool’ but in reality it looks rather silly

It means you don't sleep with your mates ex, or family member, or someone that you know your mate is interested in.

However I only know this from American TV shows, as I've never heard an actual human being use the phrase in real life, despite being male.

I’m probably way too old to be a ‘bro’ these days. None of my mates have ever used that term - it’s a bit try hard.

If I had to guess, it’s both about not going after your mate’s ex / Sister / someone he’s interested in AND providing alibis if needed.

The whole “what happens on the stag night…” thing for instance.

You mean that you were absent the day the handbooks were handed out at secondary school?

Wouldn't have thought it was a strict code....more like guidelines and you'd follow them, bend or break them, play with fire with them depending on how much you value your mates' good opinions and continued friendship.

Also, men don't tend to talk in general about women, not very much anyway except maybe in their teenage years when they're just starting out tangling with the opposite sex. There will always be outliers, of course. That's my experiance for what it's worth.

There's a charming expression 'Bros before hos' (long 'o' in both words) which sounds like a bro code motto, if that helps.
May I suggest a counter-code? WIMS BEFORE HIMS😁

Sisters before misters, hon 😉

It's entirely nebulous and means different things to different people. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

https://www.wikihow.com/Bro-Code-Rules#

Besties before testes 😁

Hips before dicks!

Repressed homoeroticism disguised as "bantz" would be my guess. Furtive glances at each others delts in the changing room before all trooping into the sauna together.

It's not a defined or real thing. It's invariably just a pathetic excuse for males with an immature mentality and lack of respect for women to justify being arseholes towards the opposite sex. I imagine it's referred to mainly by the same sort of people who utter nonsense such is "snitches get stitches" or try to excuse abhorrent, bullying behaviour as "just banter".