Across TikTok and Instagram, men wearing jorts, carrying stacks of feminist literature and having a matcha latte in hand have flocked to college campuses for “performative male” contests.

Seeing these videos, Ohio State University third-year sociology major Sophia Barski decided to host her own, poking fun at the trend and its desire to gain women’s attention.

“Everybody’s having them at their school. They’re posting about them on YikYak or whatever,” she says. “I saw one post of like, ‘Why hasn’t [Ohio State] done this yet,’ and then I commented something along the lines of, ‘I’m going to make a poster tonight.’”

With the short notice, Barski wasn’t expecting a crowd, but the initial small group of five people quickly grew to 15 participants and over 100 attendees on Sept. 16.

“It looked kind of shocking, and I wasn’t expecting that many people to at least compete, so I was pretty proud of that,” she says.

Since the “performative male” trend gained attention on social media during the summer, which focuses on being different than other men and showing an interest in things that women typically enjoy, contests like Barski’s have popped up on campuses and in Central Park.

Although the trend seems light-hearted, “performing” the act of sharing interests with women causes men to betray themselves, taking on a new persona.

I matcha ask you about seduction

Men’s desire to seduce women is not a new concept, but men deceiving women as vulnerable and comfortable with their femininity is a new approach to seduction.

Dr. Suzanne Holt, women’s studies coordinator and professor, says men have always used seduction and manipulation to “get the girl.”

“In novels [and] films, part of what enables them to almost always get the girl — or kill the girl if they can’t get her — is that they have, at least in their own estimation, and perhaps by virtue of their track record, mastered the art of seduction,” she says.

This seduction possesses no genuine nature, but rather relies on control and “a sort of anticipated read of what her vulnerabilities are, ways to flatter her, ways to please her,” Holt says.

Carrying around a Labubu on a canvas tote bag can make men seem approachable and non-threatening, but why does this seduction matter?

“In seduction, you’re dominating the will of the woman,” Holt says. “Her will is of no real use to you, except how you can use what she wants to get what you want.”

Although society has only begun using the term “toxic masculinity” to describe the pressures to conform to an ideal image of a dominant man, the idea has been around for centuries. At the heart of it is the subordination of women, Holt says.

“If you want to be a bona fide male by today’s male ideal, you have to have a woman who’s beneath you, that is weaker than you, maybe sillier than you and who needs you —  who wants you,” she says.

Isn’t it “Clairo” that I love you?

Ohio State is not the only Ohio campus where “performative males” can be spotted. Kent State freshman psychology major Emilee Mikovich says she has noticed a number of them around campus.

Although she views the trend as funny, she is also concerned about its queer baiting nature, with “performative males” claiming to be in touch with their feminine side and advocating for women’s rights. 

“I think some of them are doing it somewhat intentionally just because it is a pretty liberal, queer campus,” Mikovich says. “Some of them do it very obviously performatively.”

After hosting her “performative male contest,” Barski saw a video by YouTuber Jarvis Johnson, who noted the trend takes part in East Asian culture appropriation with its inclusion of matcha and Labubus.

“The way that they dress is very based in Japanese fashion, and they’re kind of making almost a mockery of it, which can be detrimental to people of that culture,” Barski says.

Men like junior journalism major David Williams, who have enjoyed matcha as a coffee substitute and listened to Clairo since her early days, have been labeled as “performative males” because of their genuine interests and sensitivity.

“I think I’m in touch with my feminine side, and for people to kind of look at this and be like, ‘Oh, he’s not weighed down by toxic masculinity,’ — now, I’m being punished for it,” Williams says.

These are not the only casualties of the trend, as the trend itself is causing men to abandon their own interests and attempt to become different people.

Freshman psychology major Summer Fetters noticed how the trend is similar to the “pick-me girl” trend from earlier in this decade, which poked fun at women who put down others to appear favorable to men.

“The performative male himself — I definitely think that would harm his own identity as an individual,” Fetters says. “You’re trying so hard, even from anyone’s perspective, to be what other people want.”

Let’s just keep things “jort”

The intent of the “performative male” may not have respect for women in mind, but contests like the one Barski hosted allow women to have a say and poke fun at the trend. For her contest, she decided to declare no winner.

“The real winners are the women who showed up today and made this happen,” Barski says. “It seemed like people were content with that.”

Adriana Gasiewski is editor-in-chief. Contact her at [email protected].