The recent online trend of “performative males” – over-the-top, female-worshipping men who engage in stereotypically feminine interests for attention – made its way to UNCW on Sept. 12.
When freshmen Madeline Hotelling and Cassie Swofford heard of “performative male contests” – competitions based on the meme – being held across college campuses nationwide, it sparked an idea to host Wilmington’s very own take on the trend. Swofford designed a poster, and the pair advertised it online consistently as the date approached.
Initially, they were unsure of how many people would actually show up. “But then all of a sudden we had a crowd within five minutes,” Hotelling said…