Internet culture evolves rapidly throughout the years, where people share new values, ideas, and languages. Thus, a popular trend has gained significant attention on social media platforms. Users have created a new archetype that surrounds itself based on aesthetics such as appearance and flaunting their interests. The performative male is a popular Gen-Z internet meme that has skyrocketed worldwide, making it a famously known trend in this day and age.
The performative male trend commenced last year when summer got hit with the album Charm, which was released by the popular indie pop singer-songwriter Clairo. Once the album gained its popularity, performative men encountered the root to their remarkable stereotype.
Nonetheless, a variety of people have debated online about how the performative male is correctly characterized. Nathalie Acuna, a sophomore, said, “People have begun reading in public, drinking matcha solely for the purpose of it being green, and clipping a Labubu onto their backpack just for it to get stolen.”
This rising trend is often affiliated with the popular collectible plushes “Labubu’s”, which have had a major uprise earlier this year. Nonetheless, performative men started to catch on and added another characteristic to their persona. Xochitl Vargas Perez, a junior, highlights, “Many people have made them trendy, but really, they have no significance behind them. I don’t see the appeal.”
Additionally, performative males have put their mark onto another attribute. Matcha is a ground powdered green tea that has boosted a variety of coffeehouse chains after it became a common feature to the performative male stereotype.
Performative men still strive today, clinging onto more widespread trends to enhance their character. However, will the performative male continue to live on or will it die down like other memes?
