The Rise of the 'Performative Male' in Digital Culture
Social media platforms are buzzing with a new label that's dividing opinions - the 'performative male'. From Taylor Swift references to Sylvia Plath quotes and matcha latte photos, men are being called out for what many describe as insincere displays of feminist alignment. But what exactly does this term mean, and why has it become so prevalent in today's digital landscape?
Defining the Modern 'Performative Male'
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a performative male represents 'a disparaging or dismissive term for a man who engages insincerely in certain activities or behaviors to appear safe, sophisticated, or feminist to appeal to women'. However, critics question whether a 180-year-old dictionary can accurately capture a trend that emerged from viral social media content.
Self-described non-performative male Ayush Pandey simplifies it as 'someone who wants to grab attention'. The concept, while newly labeled, finds theoretical roots in 20th century philosopher Judith Butler's work. In her seminal paper 'Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory', Butler argued that gender itself is a performance - a 'strategy of survival' with clearly punitive consequences.
Modern feminist Rajeev Singh explains the social dynamics driving this phenomenon. 'Most men are influenced by their friend circle, which is influenced by pop culture... creating a vicious circle that requires validation', he notes, emphasizing how social conditioning and trends create templates for male behavior.
Social Media: The Perfect Stage for Performance
The digital era has provided the ideal platform for performative behavior. Social media feeds are flooded with reels teaching users 'how to identify a performative male', amplifying the trend across demographics.
JNU economics professor Surya Bhushan observes that 'social media has undeniably increased the performative nature of masculinity'. He references 20th century economist Herbert A Simon's attention economics theory, particularly relevant in today's internet era where attention has become a scarce resource.
Professor Bhushan warns against making self-image transactional in an age where 'self-image is currency'. He advises maintaining authenticity rather than constantly performing specific versions of oneself for social validation.
Performative Male vs. Traditional Masculinity
The tension between performative behavior and traditional masculinity reveals deeper societal conflicts. Social psychologist Lewis Wedlock notes that the term becomes particularly harsh when used between men, suggesting contempt for authenticity and accusing others of performing for female approval.
Ayush Pandey explains that 'the whole act of performing requires the man to step aside from the patriarchal timeline', making it a target for criticism because it defies conventional masculinity standards.
However, opinions vary significantly. Sports writer Shubhanshu Dwivedi sees value in calling out 'men who are actually not feminists and pretending to be one'. Meanwhile, Vivek Dubey, who has been labeled performative himself, attributes the trend to a 'sharp rise in far-right thinking' amplified by social media echo chambers like the Locker Room in India.
Dubey declares he would wear the label as a 'badge of honor', arguing that moving past toxic cycles of hate requires conscious effort and progressive behavior, even if sometimes perceived as performative.
The debate continues as social media platforms keep serving content that both creates and critiques the very phenomenon of performative masculinity, leaving users to navigate the fine line between genuine allyship and social performance.
