Posted by Written By Emma Keeler
As defined by the Oxford dictionary it means to be, “done or expressed insincerely or inauthentically, typically with the intention of impressing others or improving one’s personal image”. This definition applies to the new surge of youth, specifically men who have taken an interest in this new niche that is growing rapidly by the day. To fit this narrative you’d have to align with the interests of many adolescent girls, ones that find joy in spending their afternoons at Barnes & Noble, cuddled up in a fitting fall sweater, an iced matcha, and preferably wired headphones playing Clairo, an indie staple. Sounds specific right? Nevertheless, the surging trend is taking over social media, and can be seen in local contests all around the country, particularly college campuses. The question is, what does it take to be labeled as performative, and is it a joke or degrading someone’s authenticity?
“I think it’s always usually selfish…that’s what I think”
Esme Keon, a New Paltz High School Senior
To expand on this, many men are seeing themselves categorized into this persona, but instead of boasting, it’s taken with shame. Although it can be seen at first as a light hearted joke, many take it as a jab instead of their genuineness. Circling back to the definition of performative, it alludes to a personality that is essentially built around generative traits that they only take on to gain the appraisal of others. Which for some, this is definitely true and can be seen within the jovial college contests or silently behind those who try to hide “their” counterfeit traits. However, for others they are being unwillingly sorted into this character-like persona, based on traits that truly attract them. Reading authors like Sally Rooney and finding interest in archived records or clothes as a man shouldn’t deem them as inauthentic. In fact, these characteristics were closely aligned with the stereotype of a gay man just months before the surge of ‘performative men”. Another social group that could either be taken with pride or shame when assigned to by another person.
When talking to classmates from New Paltz High School, girls had a very different approach to their opinions on this new trend when compared to the boys who were simply uninterested in speaking on the matter. On the topic of selfishness that could be associated with the role, Esme Keon, a senior, claimed, “I think it’s always usually selfish…that’s what I think”. Clea Spring, also a senior, agreed, sharing her definition. “Performative men are guys that do things and only think about how they’re going to be perceived by people, especially women.”
The conclusion is that many women feel almost threatened by the new overwhelming interest in their niches, and their interests, and when the line between whose genuine and whose performative is unclear, it becomes easy to assume that all are artificial. “It’s not who you are,” said Clea Spring.
This is undoubtedly a social trend that will soon be replaced with yet another, and may even be forgotten within a year or two. The question is, will the same group of Labubu loving teen boys be attacked, or will it instead be a different group troubled by society’s need to categorize everyone and anyone.
The Maroon 