What is a “performative man,” this trend that has taken over TikTok?

A matcha in hand… a tote bag slung over the shoulder… black nail polish neatly applied… a carefully styled mullet… and a copy of Sally Rooney peeking from his back pocket. That’s the look of the so-called performative man. In the past few weeks, this character has turned into a full-blown meme, with videos racking up millions of views. On the surface, he checks all the boxes of a deconstructed man. But in reality, he often represents a slickly packaged version of masculinity 2.0. What does that mean, exactly? So how can you spot the difference between performance and sincerity? So how do you actually become an ally without overdoing it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How is micro-feminism helping women combat workplace sexism? Do men really have a better sense of direction than women? Why has purple become the colour of feminism? A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices