“Period cramps? 6 [foot] 2 [inches] btw,” a lightbox announced at the entrance to the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality’s (CSGS) Performative Male Study Break and Contest. Comments like this might have seemed absurd just six months earlier, but they now echo the typical quips about the “performative male,” an archetype that has swept social media.
“Performative male” is a Gen-Z term describing a man who intentionally projects an image of sensitivity and soft masculinity to appeal to women. He cultivates his persona by indulging publicly in feminist literature to signal emotional depth or by flaunting a matcha latte to reject the supposed hypermasculinity associated with black coffee. Similar contests have taken place at schools such as Rice University, Stanford University, and Yale University, with eager entrants competing to be crowned the ultimate performative male.
On November 14, UChicago joined the trend. CSGS hosted a study break promising free matcha, tote bag decorating, and, of course, a battle of performativity. Approximately 50 attendees lined up to assemble charcuterie plates and matcha bubble teas. The space was adorned with Labubus, vinyl records of female pop artists, and digital cameras.
Attendees were first invited to participate in a topical Kahoot quiz. Questions were pulled from a wide range of topics, from Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex to Laufey’s discography. Everyone had to take on the role of a performative male who was supposed to know everything from feminist theory to pop culture references. After several widely missed questions, it became evident that a convincing impersonation was harder to achieve than it might seem.
Shortly after, it was announced that participants in the contest would strut to the center of the room, deliver a statement, and exit to audience applause. Scores of performative males stood in line, ranging in gender identity. Many wore similar outfits consisting of jorts or oversized jeans topped by a polo shirt or crewneck. They carried an indispensable tote bag, drooping wired earbuds, and a medley of books written by female authors. The contestants’ creativity was evident in their catchphrases. Most sympathized with female burdens of menstruation or childbirth. Others signaled their proficiency in feminist philosophy or in music produced by women. The funniest deliveries featured mannerisms, like head tilts and the speaker playing with their hair, that added a comical effect. The audience applauded and cheered for all participants, but in the end, they voted for a winner.
The ultimate winner was Manuel Maria (’27), who chose to go by “Milo” to better fit the hipster stereotype. Committing wholeheartedly to the role, he remained in character even while being interviewed about his victory. “I’d like to dedicate this to all the women in my life. I really embody and resonate with what it’s like to be a woman.… Can you imagine having a period?”
Lighthearted as it was, the event took a lot of planning. The CGSE’s student advisory board, composed of student Gender and Sexuality Studies majors, organized the event. The Maroon spoke to members of the board to hear their motivations in planning the event. They said the event encapsulated the board’s outlook on sexuality. “Gender is a performance, so the performative male contest just seemed to fit our vibe,” Charlotte Littlefield (’26) said. Jessica Washington (’26) appreciated that such contests are “getting people thinking about gender and sexuality,” fitting the board’s desire to also promote the area of study. They have planned similar study events in past quarters, including a drag show and a “Hear Me Out” contest.
The jest of the performative male has been extensively parodied online with humorous intentions. Yet, as per UChicago’s typical ethos, the event had academic underpinnings. Judith Butler was referenced repeatedly during the event, by the board and attendees alike. Featured extensively in the College’s course catalog, Butler is a distinguished professor and founder of the Program in Critical Theory at the University of California, Berkeley. They have given lectures at the UChicago Department of Classics, the Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory, and Chicago Humanities Festival. The board members traced a throughline between the theories of Butler and the trend of the performative male. There is “nothing biological about gender.… It’s [an] outward expression that is a result of societal pressures on people,” Jess summarized. Thus, while the performative male may subvert normative expectations of gender, gender identity is still shaped by social precedent.
Seeing the study break in person made the performative male’s absurdity unmistakable—far more so than watching online content. It ultimately highlighted how empty the virtue signaling of performative men can be. They try to appear well-read in feminist theory and to mirror typically feminine tastes, but their efforts ultimately seem to stem more from a desire to attract attention than from genuine self-motivation.
