A “Performative Male” contest was held on the Pentacrest in Iowa City on Wednesday evening.
The term “performative male” is a trending internet phenomenon that highlights or depicts a man who artificially displays an archetype of “soft masculinity” for various reasons.
Contestants line up during a “Performative Male” contest on the Pentacrest on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Similar contests have taken place at universities across the United States, where men present themselves in a way that caters to the female gaze.