performative male

Apparently the dead giveaway for the performative male is the tote bag, often with Labubu doll attached.  The second clue is that they are clutching a book by a female author, which they read as they sip their matcha latte.  For the uninitiated a Labubu doll is a plush doll, currently very trendy.  The slightly edgy elf-like faces were created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung.

But back to the performative male.  The term is sneering because there are those who feel that this whole persona created to appeal to women is totally inauthentic and conceals an old-school toxic masculinity.  He gives out all the signals for softness, stylishness and a feminist leaning, but is it real?