Performative Allyship

Recently, the topic of “Performative Allyship” within feminism has been the subject of significant and in-depth discussion. At its core, this term describes a type of behavior in which an individual—often a man—takes a strong public or social media stance in favor of feminism, while the same ideals are completely absent in their personal conduct. A deeper examination of how this dynamic functions reveals several key points:

Public Support Versus Private Practice

The defining feature of performative allyship is the stark contradiction between words and actions. An individual might be a prominent promoter of gender equality online, yet in their workplace or family life, they continue to uphold the very patriarchal power structures they claim to oppose. Voicing solidarity in this way is “low-cost” or easy for them precisely because it does not require giving up any personal privilege.

Image Protection and Social Reward

A major driver behind this behavior is the desire to accumulate social capital or enhance one’s public standing. Until they are exposed, these individuals often receive considerable praise and are accorded moral authority. It is also not uncommon for men who are disadvantaged in other systems—such as class or economic status—to use feminism as a kind of shield to lend legitimacy to their own struggles.

Hypocrisy as a Shield

What is most concerning is that this performance can become a tool for concealing wrongdoing. It is not unusual to see a person publicly and passionately condemning sexual harassment, while in private, they themselves are perpetrators of such abuse. This cultivated “progressive image” can shield them from social accountability for a long time.

The Movement’s Established Legitimacy

Nevertheless, there is another dimension to this public posturing. When someone repeats feminist rhetoric, even if only to protect their image, it indirectly demonstrates that feminism has become a powerful and established discourse in society. In other words, society has lost the ability to openly disregard feminism, which forces even insincere actors to at least pay lip service to it. This, in itself, signals an ideological victory for the movement, where even opponents are compelled to publicly acknowledge the legitimacy of the struggle.