Wokefishing
What does Wokefishing mean?
Wokefishing is pretending to hold progressive or socially conscious views, especially on dating apps, in order to attract a partner who cares about those values.
Wokefishing used in a sentence
“His profile was full of activist buzzwords, but he couldn't explain any of them on the date, which felt like wokefishing.”
This example shows the term in context rather than treating the definition as a literal word-for-word substitution. Slang often depends on tone, audience, and the conversation around it.
How do you use Wokefishing?
The term blends 'woke' with 'catfishing.' It is used when someone's political or social values appear performative, for example progressive buzzwords in a bio that do not match their actual behavior. Some dating coaches consider it more damaging than exaggerating height or age because it misrepresents core beliefs.
Where did Wokefishing come from?
The term was popularized around 2020 by a Vice article by journalist Serena Smith and was then picked up by dating columns in the UK, US, and India. It belongs to the long line of '-fishing' dating terms that grew out of 'catfishing.'
Common variations of Wokefishing
wokefish
The verb or noun form for someone who presents fake progressive values.
political catfishing
A broader description for misrepresenting political views to attract a partner.
Wokefishing: frequently asked questions
How is wokefishing different from catfishing?
Catfishing usually involves a fake identity, while wokefishing involves a real person misrepresenting their values.
Can wokefishing go the other direction?
The term specifically describes faking progressive views, though people do sometimes fake other political identities to fit a target audience.