Linewives and Bucket Bunnies

About

Linewives and Bucket Bunnies are slang terms for women who have relationships with electricians who repair power lines, aka "linemen." In late September and early October 2022, social media was alerted to the existence of these terms and subcultures after a series of TikToks found women married to linemen, aka "linewives," discussing their hatred of "bucket bunnies," a pejorative term for women who attempt to sleep with traveling linemen regardless of if they're married or not.

Origin

Linemen are often required to travel long distances to perform their jobs. On December 27th, 2018, Urban Dictionary user Linewife posted an over-the-top adulatory definition for "Linemen,"^[1] writing:

A badass motherfucker who lives to work a dangerous life. They get paid to get high (on the pole) and electrify peoples’ lives. Drives a pimped out truck and has the nicest toys. Typically drinks and hangouts with their buddies every night. They work hard and play harder. Tend to be some of the sexiest men. A tramp lineman works and lives on the road as they travel.

On October 13th, 2020, user Readitagain then posted a definition for "Bucket Bunny,"^[2] writing:

A woman who hops from electrical lineman to lineman looking to have sex often not caring if the men are single or married. “Bucket” refers to the lineman’s work truck that has a long extended bucket.

While there had been some videos posted by "linewives" about their hatred of "bucket bunnies" in years prior to 2022,^[3] their existence began growing more widely known during Hurricane Ian as TikTokers posted about linemen coming to Florida and showing up on dating apps like Tinder. On September 29th, 2022, TikToker @emilyhosein1 posted a video showing linemen who appeared on Tinder in Florida after Hurricane Ian, gaining over 1.3 million views (shown below).

The following day on September 30th, user @whitewidow_1313 posted a TikTok saying, "Imagine finding your husband has a Tinder from scrolling TikTok." In the comments, she said her comment wasn't about her, but she believes she saw a friend's husband in @emilyhosein1's TikTok (shown below, left).^[4] The same day, user @kaylaamariee12330 posted a TikTok saying she found her husband in the video, gaining over 2.3 million views in one week.

Spread

The viral success of these videos led more linewives to come forward with videos discussing the trend and expressing their distaste for bucket bunnies. For example, on September 29th, 2022, TikToker @ohhmtee posted a video saying that she was a "pipeline wife" who had dealt with "row hoes" in the past, so she understood what Linewives were going through (shown below, left). On September 28th, TikToker @ammosexualsara then posted a video warning women to stay away from linemen (shown below, right).

The presence of linewives on TikTok also led to some criticism for their hatred towards bucket bunnies, as many users argued the men were clearly at fault for attempting to cheat on their wives. TikToker @b.rose1111xoxo posted a video on October 1st, 2022, opining that the men were at fault if they were cheating, and linewives should direct their anger at them, not bucket bunnies, gaining over 30,000 likes in four days (shown below, left). TikToker @callmepettywap posted a similar video on October 3rd, gaining over 2,000 likes in two days (shown below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References