The Conceptualization of Performative Masculinity on Tiktok’s “Performative Male” Trend in Indonesia
Abstract
This research aims to analyze how masculinity is conceptualized and how audiences respond to the “Performative Male” trend on TikTok in Indonesia. This study employs a qualitative netnographic approach, with data consisting of fifteen selected videos uploaded by Indonesian users participating in the trend. Using Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity, the analysis emphasizes three analytical categories: expression of emotion, feminine-coded masculinity, and the role of vulnerability. The findings show that masculinity in the “Performative Male” trend is conceptualized as a performative and flexible identity, characterized by calm emotional expression, an aesthetic lifestyle, and openness to vulnerability. Furthermore, audience responses reveal that this form of masculinity in the “Performative Male” trend is not fully accepted within society, as indicated by the dominance of critical responses.
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