Boy, turn that Clairo off and grab you a beer- the Performative Male epidemic is more than just a viral internet phenomenon. 

My biggest piece of advice? Never trust a man who says he listens to Clairo and drinks matcha. 

I’m sure we’ve all seen the “performative male” starter packs all over social media- feminist literature, listening to indie music with wired earphones, etc.

Recently, a Performative Male contest took place in Seattle, where the guy that looked and acted the most like a “performative man” won a cash prize. Although it was meant to poke fun at a viral internet trend, is that all the Performative Male phenomenon is?

So, what is a performative man? Lifestyle Asia magazine describes the performative male as a “guy in their 20s who dress up like Pinterest lookbooks, buy matcha lattes in cafes and read books not because it’s their actual hobby, but in hopes to attract women.” Essentially, they look and act a certain way to appeal to women, get them attached, then ruin their lives.

The performative male archetype is more than just a physical aesthetic and an internet comedy show, but a dangerously growing socio-cultural epidemic. Youtuber Tyler Bender argues that “softness isn’t just stylish- it’s strategic.”

First, they outwardly express why they “feel bad for women” and that the world “needs feminism” which gets women talking. Then they’ll pay for a dinner date then cheat with their best friend, claiming that they had a “rough mental health crisis” and “needed to feel something.” They’ll quote Sylvia Plath and Rupi Kaur, but when they’re alone they’re listening to Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate podcasts- without wired earphones. This is becoming a serious problem in the modern world of social interactions.

On a less serious note, it’s becoming so popular that women already assume that they’re bad people. The Performative Male contests, like the one in Seattle, are being replicated all over the world, such as in Sydney.

So unoriginal! Like, if you’re planning on manipulating women, at least be creative, instead of a carbon copy of their worst nightmare. Well actually, you should probably care about their interests instead of mansplaining the entire plot of The Handmaid’s Tale for 30 minutes straight. Maybe women will actually want to date you instead of telling you they choose the bear. 

It’s a real shame for the men who are genuinely interested in vintage fashion and books and indie artists because now they’re being roped into an archetype of manipulative men that we know they aren’t, and if any of them are reading this, my condolences. 

So, my final piece of advice? Boy, turn that Clairo off and grab you a beer.