Male in Spotlight: Emotional, Intelligent, and Persistent?
In the digital age, a new social construct has emerged, causing a stir in metropolises like Berlin, New York, and London. This construct is known as the 'Performative Male,' a term coined to describe men who exhibit traits that were once considered unconventional, such as sensitivity and emotional expressiveness.
The Performative Male is a ghost summoned by the internet and society, where these once-suppressed qualities are increasingly being ironized and turned into a news. Initially, those showing less classic, 'hard' qualities were seen as progressive. However, once the performance becomes too obvious, a backlash often follows, leading to an overcompensation of traditional masculinity.
The Performative Male is often seen on social media, posing with matcha, feminist literature, jute bags, and analog cameras, and wearing a Labubu accessory. His fashion uniform often includes loafers with high white socks, slim sneakers like Adidas Gazelles, worn-out baseball caps, small sunglasses or Ray-Ban Wayfarers, a single hoop earring, and wired headphones.
This new archetype of contemporary self-presentation is causing a stir in a world dominated by toxic masculinity, especially online. The status of the Performative Male is decided by the perception of emotional intelligence rather than money or muscles. However, the authenticity of the Performative Male is questionable. Behind the softened facade lies the same old hunger for control, validation, and status.
The symbols of feminism are prominently displayed by the Performative Male, yet his apparent interest can quickly turn out to be an empty news when questioned about staged books or correctly pronouncing the singer Laufey's name. The dynamics of the Performative Male are cyclical, emphasizing that masculinity remains a social construct, always a performance and repeatable.
The article 'The Ghosts the Internet Summoned: The Performative Male' was written by Sarah Sharma, shedding light on this intriguing phenomenon. The Performative Male's staging doesn't come from nowhere; it's a societal current that makes it difficult for those genuinely interested to live these qualities authentically.
Moreover, the Performative Male phenomenon is entering a new phase, where mechanisms are created that could inadvertently push other men to re-emphasize traditional 'macho' traits. This trend, celebrated on platforms like TikTok or rewarded at competitions in Berlin, New York, or elite universities like Yale, could potentially undermine the progress made towards embracing emotional expressiveness in men.
In online dating, objectively measurable traits like height are adjusted, causing a stir online. The Performative Male's choices of books can reveal whether he has genuinely engaged with the text or if it's a mere symbol of cultural capital without substance.
The Performative Male is criticized for his demonstrative gentleness, as he seems like the opposite of the classic alpha male. However, the debate surrounding the Performative Male is a reflection of society's evolving understanding and acceptance of masculinity. As Judith Butler mentioned in 'Performative Acts and Gender Constitution', gender is always a performance, repeatable and subject to change. The Performative Male is a testament to this notion, pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a man in the modern world.
