Performative male
2025 internet meme about an alleged archetype of man involving performative displays of progressivism, feminism, as well as emotional sensitivity
The performative male (or performative man), also sometimes called the matcha male, is an internet meme and term referring to an alleged archetype of men that was popularized on social media in 2025. It generally involves performative displays of progressivism, feminism, and emotional sensitivity. Examples of such displays include reading books by feminist writers like All About Love by bell hooks, listening to female indie artists such as Clairo, drinking matcha lattes, habitually carrying a tote bag, and owning a Labubu. These displays are allegedly done as a means of superficially appealing to progressive women with the intent to romantically pursue them.
The term has been used both seriously, to criticize the alleged insincerity of some Generation Z men, and satirically for humorous purposes online. Some have pointed it out as the 2020s manifestation of earlier alt-male archetypes like the soft boy or hipsters, the male manipulator meme, or the male equivalent of the pick me girl. Others have criticized the meme for stereotyping men as manipulative, discouraging them from reading and engaging in progressive causes.
Etymology
Charles Thrush, writing for Block Club Chicago, defined the performative male archetype as a man with "traditionally feminine hobbies with the sole intent of cultivating an inauthentic aesthetic that might appeal to progressive women." Mahalia Chang, writing in GQ, stated that, in his pursuit of the female gaze, the performative male, "is doing his mating dance, puffing out his feathers, in pursuit of female attention. Think of our performative male like a female gaze caricature on steroids... The performative male is designed to look alluring and non-threatening and intelligent, to and for women."
Characteristics
Characteristics of the performative male generally include astrology, iced matcha lattes, Labubu keychains, certain female musicians like Clairo or Laufey, vinyl records, vintage clothing, therapy, female authors like Sally Rooney or Joan Didion, reading feminist literature, baggy jeans, wired headphones, tote bags, and skin care, among others.
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