The 'Feminist Ryan Gosling' meme began in 2008 on Tumblr, created by Danielle Henderson as a way to help her remember feminist theory for her graduate studies. It features a close-up image of the actor Ryan Gosling accompanied by captions starting with his signature 'Hey Girl' catchphrase, followed by sophisticated academic or social critiques of the patriarchy. The meme went viral because of the humorous juxtaposition between a Hollywood heartthrob and dense sociological concepts. It has since become a staple of internet culture, celebrating a sensitive male figure who is both physically attractive and intellectually supportive of women's rights.