The performative male phenomenon has managed to find its way onto our very own Andrews campus with a performative male contest outside the Campus Center that was held Sept. 26. The contest was similar to other iterations you can view across social media and, like other contests like it, was a spoof of the idea that a man only feigns interest in traditionally women-dominated discussions and hobbies for female validation. With a fashion show introduction of contestants, a question round from the judges, and even a portion dedicated to seeing who makes the best matcha, the event didn’t disappoint. But what is this trend really about?
The idea of a performative man and subsequent contests was a particularly popular trend across social media this last summer of 2025. The concept broadly is an exaggerated caricature of a man who adopts stereotypically soft or feminist-friendly behaviors and hobbies to attract more attention. After the contest, the winner, Devyn Lopez (freshman, pre-physical therapy), described a performative man as “someone who dresses or acts a certain way for social validation.” He goes on to share that the trend is rather silly because people are just into these things because it is cool and not for the actual love or enjoyment of certain styles, artists, hobbies, etc.
This isn’t the first internet term that highlights some variety of a gendered performance. The most immediate parallel is the “nice guy”: The men who overtly advertise their kindness and acceptance, with the expectation of receiving romance in return. Like the performative male, the nice guy draws attention to how sincerity can be weakened by the performance, raising doubts about authenticity. Oppositely, but arguably in the same vein, is the “pick-me girl.” Her definition across social media has become known as the women who emphatically reject feminine connections and femininity at large to garner acceptance by men.
By looking at these other popular internet archetypes, the “performative male” trend is part of a larger tendency in the media to police gender in a satirical way. They are funny because they replicate recognizable behaviors of people in our real life, but the other side of that coin is that they also sting because they expose insecurities about how much of our gender identities are “real” versus “acted” for approval.
The performative male trend raises real questions about how society reacts when men step into spaces traditionally deemed feminine. The humor and parody make it a lighthearted way to acknowledge the double standard that men (when they paint their nails, drink matcha, or listen to women artists like Laufey or Clairo) get treated as quirky, while women doing the same are just ordinary. It can be read as satire because it draws attention to the absurdity of rigid gender expectations. However, the labeling of this behavior as “performative” ends up reinforcing the very stereotypes it critiques, proposing that men’s engagement with softness, style, or feminist ideals is inherently artificial and filled with ulterior motives.
Overall, the performative male contest at Andrews was a playful reflection of a larger trend that is equal parts comedy and critique. It provided the opportunity for students to laugh at the exaggerated stereotypes. Like the “nice guy” or “one-of-the-guys girl,” the performative male encapsulates the relationship between how people present themselves and how those performances are received in a culture quick to label. Whether seen as just lighthearted or a reflection of how performative behavior can be manipulative, the trends show us that gender (and their roles) is still a heavily debated topic. The contest at Andrews highlighted both sides of this tension: it was undeniably entertaining, but it also reflected the sad reality that certain traits and hobbies are still gender-policed, even if in jest.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.