Performative Activism What does performative activism look li | English Slang Words Terms

Performative Activism

What does performative activism look like?

Activism performed to gain social standing

Performative activism is when a person participates in an activist movement not because they believe in the cause, but because they want to be popular. The phrase became popular in 2020 during the George Floyd protests, when celebrities were accused of joining in to gain fans rather than out of genuine commitment.

Fake activism often occurs online, especially on social sites like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Performative activists post messages saying they support a cause, but do nothing else to support the cause (such as donating money or protesting IRL).

Typically, performative activism is an act that performative activists put on to appear woke to their followers or the general public. Other times, a performative activist may simply not realize that their posts come across as fake to those doing the actual work.

What are some examples of performative activism?

One example of performative activism is when Emma Watson posted multiple black squares to her Instagram account in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM), taking time to ensure her "activism" maintained her account's aesthetic. Another example includes celebrities posting images of themselves "protesting," which are actually just photo ops.

Slang similar to performative activism

Performative activism is similar to slacktivism, which is a combination of "slacker" and "activism" that describes people who try to be activists but don't want to put forth much effort. Performative activists may also be called posers, who are people guilty of saying they live their life one way while not actually living that way at all.

Example

"All these influencers are showing their true colors with their performative activism."
"Yeah, I saw one person selling a BLM shirt with her brand on it.
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When you are accused of performative activism