Male Performativity Online

we focus on female performativity so much we fail to see how equally as performative (if not more!) men are, especially online. there's countless of videoessays about performative femininity but clearly we're not alone in this.

how many times have we heard "i can't talk to women" or "i want a goth/latina/opium/raver/(insert interest) gf" and when they do get the opportunity, they fumble bc it wasn't genuine from the start–they just wanted approval and validation for their quirky taste. especially from other men.

basically it's doing it for the bit & it even goes so far as LARPing as bigoted bc that's what's funny, different & edgy rn. 

this is very in line with the current overaestheticization of everything as we see on TT. everyone is doing it. it's all very algorythmic too – if you listen to X artist you must also like Y movie and Z kind of partner!!!

 interests (music, movies, books, style & EVEN PEOPLE) become nothing but an accesory to match & reinforce your current aesthetic & online image, regardless how insincere.

it's not a female issue only, not a male issue only either, but an issue of commodification we should all strive to eradicate. <3