Matcha. Labubus. Tote bags. Feminist literature. All four of these things have one thing in common: if a male likes any of these things, Gen Z has dubbed this “performative.” The “performative male” trend has spread rapidly across social media platforms, with men using feminine interests or clothing styles to appear more attractive to women, at least on the surface. The trend has become so viral, cities like San Fransico and New York have housed performative male competitions, and even colleges like Yale have joined in. The prize goes to whoever can look the part, whether that’s listening to Clairo, reading feminist literature or wearing baggy jeans.
Senior Victor Fang does not identify with the “performative male” label, but he has said that many of his peers believe he fits this mold. He explains the unfairness that this identification might have.
“I think off of face value, it could sound pretty bad, because it’s not good to have someone act like they’re putting on a performance at all times,” Fang said. “It’s very unhealthy to put that label on someone, even though they might not be doing that.”
It is essential to acknowledge the injustice of dismissing men who do not fit into traditional masculinity. Social media posts making fun of the “performative male,” intending to be funny, are instead reinforcing gender stereotypes and ridiculing men for liking things that society has labeled traditionally female.
“With the political climate of the world, a lot of the time it can be used to make fun of men who are not trying to be very hypermasculine,” senior Connor Brady said.
Director of Forensics and gender studies minor Katrina Brominguez believes that the trend differs from early studies of gender, where women would appear “performative” to appear more masculine, in hopes of gaining voting rights or equality. Brominguez believes that this shift in trend may be beneficial for men.
“It is all performative until it’s real,” Brominguez said. “If it got some men to try less traditionally masculine hobbies than maybe it does have a net positive effect.”
Regardless of whether men are participating in this trend seriously or mockingly, it invites the crossing of gender stereotypes and creates a better understanding of the opposite sex.
“When you’re appealing to the female gaze, you do have a very different response, a different behavioral outlook,” Brominguez said. “I don’t know that it’s ever necessarily a good thing to shape yourself for the opposite sex’s attention … but if it can lead to more, deeper thought about the desires and understandings and wants of the other sex, then that’s probably good for the divide in general. It allows men, even in a playful way, to step out of the male toxicity.”
TikTok has seen a surge of trends primarily centered on gender within the past year, notably “girl dinner,” “tradwife,” and “Man of the Year,” which have all sparked immense debate on their commentary on gender stereotypes and dating lives of Gen Z. Performative males are breaking those stereotypes, attempting to lean into nontraditional roles, whether it is genuine or not. The question is whether this trend will continue despite the criticism toward so-called “performative men.”