Performative Male

A subgenre of "nice guys" that tries too hard to be in touch with their feminine side or pretends to like things like K-Pop, tote bags, reading, matcha, Laufey, or the like to improve their popularity with girls. This will often mean ditching their true selves to put up a facade for their partner 24/7 and may lead to strain in relationships when their partner learns that he was only acting in that manner to get some action.

Guy 1: "OMG, you wanna go to the salon and listen to Clairo later? We could go get matcha after that."

Guy 2: "mf didn't you cheat on your last girlfriend a week ago?? You're such a Performative Male."

Performative Male by Mr. Defender July 14, 2025

performative male

A performative male is one who reads books by women authors, drinks matcha, and carries a tote bag (bonus points if it's artsy) with a labubu pinned to it. Also, wear baggy pants. He likely listens to indie artists like Clairo. The books he reads may include, but are not limited to: The Bell Jar, Intermezzo, and We Should All Be Feminists. His home or room likely has vinyl collections hung on the walls.

Whether or not he understands the feminist themes is up for debate. Apparently, he just wants to be on the feminists' side. And don't ask about his second account on social media. What he posts there is the complete opposite on his main. 🤫

Nico is a performative male. He carries a tote bag (with a lababu pinned) when going out, reads feminist literature in cafes and posts wholesome content on social media that make you feel warm, safe, and think, "Nico is the guy I wanna be besties with". However his priv account is a 180.

performative male by mangolovercats22 August 16, 2025

performative male

a male who can fuck anywhere and at anytime.

jimmy: yo françois, where is javier?

francois: oh he’s at the end of the huntington beach pier banging marie

jimmy: with all those people watching! wow; true performative male that javier!

performative male by jimmy_was_a_stimulator September 4, 2025

performative male

A cisgender heterosexual man who, out of necessity, imitates and adopts styles and trends associated with a female audience in order to attract and draw the attention of his target or social group. This style or subgenre arises from the man's imperative to fit into a society that no longer shares the prevailing beliefs, forcing him to share, use, and propagate, albeit superficially, alternative trends.

The general archetype is a man who reads feminist literature or female authors, consumes music outside the established niche, wears clothing in soft tones or from alternative brands, drinks matcha or similar beverages in bistro cafes, uses tote bags, and brags of his "open mind."

The archetype is constantly changing and depends on what is globally perceived as acceptable.

I didn't know that wearing wire headphones and drinking and ice latte was a common performative male conduct.

performative male by factd January 26, 2026