Matcha, Labubus and women’s rights, oh my! – The Butler Collegian

Report on the “Performative Male” Competition and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

On November 14, the University Program Council (UPC) hosted a competition titled the “most performative male on campus.” The event utilized a contemporary internet trend to engage the student body, providing a unique platform to address several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants competed for prizes by embodying the “performative male” archetype, which involves adopting specific interests and behaviors, including advocacy for social issues. This report analyzes the event’s structure and outcomes through the lens of the SDGs.

Primary Focus: SDG 5 – Gender Equality

The competition’s central theme was intrinsically linked to SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The event satirically examined modern expressions of male feminism, prompting discussion on genuine versus performative allyship.

• Promoting Dialogue: By requiring contestants to bring items such as feminist literature and tampons and to preach about gender rights, the event created a space for dialogue on topics crucial to gender equality.
• Empowering Women’s Voices: The final round of the competition directly supported SDG 5 by asking the three finalists to identify and explain the most inspiring woman in their lives, placing value and recognition on female influence and achievement.
• Challenging Stereotypes: The event’s premise, while light-hearted, encouraged participants to deconstruct and reflect upon gender stereotypes. As organizer Cash Pasley stated, the long-term hope is to “live in a society where it’s not performative to care about women’s rights,” a sentiment that directly reflects the core mission of SDG 5.

Contributions to Other Sustainable Development Goals

Beyond its primary focus on gender equality, the event also contributed to other SDGs:

• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The competition served as an informal educational initiative, encouraging students to think critically about social trends, activism, and gender dynamics within a campus setting.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): A stated objective of the UPC was to “build a stronger and better Bulldog community” and provide engaging on-campus activities. This directly supports the goal of making communities more inclusive, safe, and resilient.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The explicit mention of participants wearing “thrifted attire” highlights an engagement with sustainable fashion practices, promoting responsible consumption patterns among the student population.

Event Structure and Execution

The competition was organized into a two-round format, with winners determined by audience vote. This structure ensured broad student participation and engagement.

1. Round One: The initial 18 contestants participated in “fit checks” and a brief question-and-answer session. The audience assessed their overall “performative” charisma and the quality of their answers before voting to select three finalists.
2. Round Two: The three finalists delivered thoughtful answers to the question of who the most inspiring woman in their life was. A final audience vote determined the first, second, and third-place winners.

Outcomes and Conclusion

The event was well-attended and successfully engaged students on multiple levels. The winners were Jeffery Copp (first place), Madison Adams-Bailey (second place), and Bridget Hamilton (third place). By leveraging a popular trend, the UPC created an innovative event that fostered creativity and community spirit while simultaneously advancing awareness and dialogue related to critical Sustainable Development Goals, most significantly SDG 5: Gender Equality.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article directly addresses this goal through the event’s theme. The competition, while satirical, centers on discussions of “gender rights,” “women’s rights,” and “feminist literature.” The event’s purpose is to allow students to “tackle the topic of equality in a light-hearted manner,” and a key quote from an organizer expresses the hope to “live in a society where it’s not performative to care about women’s rights.”
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The event takes place within a university setting and serves as an informal educational tool. It aims to raise awareness and promote discussion among students on important social issues like gender equality, contributing to a holistic learning environment that extends beyond the classroom.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article highlights the University Program Council’s (UPC) objective to “build a stronger and better Bulldog community” and “beat the backpack school stereotype.” This relates to creating inclusive, safe, and engaging community spaces. The event is a specific initiative to improve the social fabric and engagement within the campus community.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The event promotes a culture where caring about women’s rights is normalized, which is a foundational step toward ending discrimination. The participants were “preaching about gender rights,” directly supporting the dialogue needed to achieve this target.
   • Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. While the event is not a policy, it represents a community-level initiative that fosters a social environment supportive of gender equality, which is essential for the successful adoption of such policies.
2. Under SDG 4 (Quality Education):
   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… gender equality. The competition serves as an extracurricular activity that educates participants and attendees about gender equality and social consciousness in a creative and engaging format.
3. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces… The UPC’s stated goal is to keep students “engaged on campus” by providing “fun things” to do. This event is an example of creating an inclusive social activity that strengthens the campus as a community space for all students.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for Targets 4.7 and 5.c:
   • Number of student-led initiatives promoting gender equality: The article describes one such event, the “performative male competition,” which serves as a qualitative indicator of student action on social issues.
   • Student participation in awareness-raising events: The article mentions that “18 other students” participated and that the UPC “praised the turnout for the event,” implying that participation rates are a measure of engagement and success.
2. Indicators for Target 11.7:
   • Level of student engagement in on-campus activities: The UPC’s objective is to “beat the backpack school stereotype” by keeping students engaged. The successful turnout for this event is an indicator of progress toward creating a more vibrant and socially cohesive campus community.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thebutlercollegian.com