Am I a Performative Male?

Take this quiz to see if you're inauthentic!

Anyone can be a performative male, regardless of gender. It's a mindset, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a.... performance! But not a good one. 🥀 Are you acting like someone you're not for attention? Are you a performative male?

Answer these quick questions, and we'll tell you.

An illustration of a matcha latte, a Lana Del Rey Album, and a Bell Hooks book.

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Questions Overview

1. How do you carry around your stuff?
  1. In a backpack
  2. In a tote bag
  3. With my bare hands
  4. Some other way
2. Choose a beverage. Think carefully.
  1. Iced Americano
  2. Matcha latte
  3. Hot tea
  4. Water
3. Which of these musicians do you like the most?
  1. Clairo
  2. Laufey
  3. Olivia Rodrigo
  4. None of them, tbh
4. What kind of earphones do you use?
  1. Bluetooth earbuds
  2. Wired earbuds
  3. Bluetooth headphones
  4. Wired headphones
5. How do you usually listen to music?
  1. Streaming, like on Spotify
  2. Downloaded to my phone or an mp3 player
  3. On vinyl or cassette
  4. On the radio
6. Thoughts on feminism?
  1. I'm like the world's leading feminist. I'm a bigger feminist than Angela Davis, basically.
  2. Pro-feminism, of course. Who isn't?
  3. Feminism? Who's that?
7. How many rings do you wear on your fingers?
  1. 3+
  2. 2
  3. 1
  4. None
8. Do you own a pair of Sambas?
  1. More than one
  2. Just one
  3. None
9. Do you ever carry around a camera other than your phone's camera?
  1. Yeah
  2. Nah
10. Do you listen to podcasts?
  1. Yes. So many.
  2. One or two, sure.
  3. Nah, not my thing.
11. When was the last time you finished reading a book?
  1. This week
  2. This month
  3. This year
  4. Can't remember
12. Be honest: Did you lie on any of these questions just to make yourself seem cooler?
  1. Yeah yeah, okay, you got me!
  2. I don't think so? Now I'm second-guessing myself.
  3. No way. I don't care that much.

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Performative Male Meaning

What is a performative male?
A “performative male” is anyone (mostly guys, but not just guys) who does things for the praise and attention of other people. They conspicuously follow trends or try to appear more intelligent or counter-cultural than they actually are in order to get clout and to aura farm. They lack authenticity and mold themselves into someone “hip” and cooler than they actually are, usually to appeal to women. This last part is the kicker. Some people say they’re manipulative because they do all this just to get a foot in the door with a girl who might appreciate these things about them.

Where did performative male come from?
The term took off on TikTok in 2025, when users began to make satirical videos about things performative males do. For example, this TikTok by @spencerevans shows a dude sipping a matcha latte and reading a book while also wearing big pants and wired earbuds, which screams performative male, according to the audience.

What are the traits of a performative male?

  • Drinks matcha lattes. A lot of them.
  • Wears “softboy” or trendy clothes like cardigans and big pants.
  • Reads feminist literature in public.
  • Tries to sound more intelligent than he actually is.
  • General, feigned interest in “feminine” culture.
  • Desperately tries to attract women.

Are performative males real?
If you ask us, yes and no. Yes because there really are people out there who will desperately follow trends in order to get clout. That’s a tale as old as time. But also, no, because this trend in particular is a flawed way to poke fun at people, and assumes that anyone drinking a matcha latte or reading in public is only doing it to perform, which isn’t the case. You should do whatever makes you happy, so long as it actually makes you happy, and not worry about whether or not other people will find it “performative.” Also, everyone’s performing all the time. It’s part of life.

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