Defining Manhood for the Next Generation

Engaging men is a critical part of the movement to address, prevent, and ultimately end sexual and domestic violence. Joyful Heart’s report, “Defining Manhood for the Next Generation: Exploring Young Men’s Perceptions of Gender Roles and Violence,” explores young men’s attitudes around gender roles, masculinity, the characteristics of “good men,” and the male role models who influence these views.

The research, funded by the Verizon Foundation and conducted by GfK Custom Research, LLC, is part of Joyful Heart’s work to promote positive, healthy masculinity and change the national conversation about manhood. Greater insight into how young men’s understanding and definition of manhood, the role of men and women, and sexuality and sexual orientation can help Joyful Heart and partner organizations develop education, awareness, and other communication campaigns that authentically build upon the positive underpinnings of masculinity, promote an aspirational view of masculinity, and change attitudes about manhood to help end violence against women and girls.

The report finds that “while young men prioritize being seen as a ‘real man,’ part of the definition of a ‘real man’ is changing—and for the better. Young men unanimously agree that ‘real men’ treat women with respect. In addition, phrases like ‘man up’ and ‘be a man’ appear to be fading from today’s vernacular.” However, the research also found that some young men still accept outmoded ideas about gender roles and see a punitive double standard in society that benefits women and girls at their expense.

The report reveals that gender equality is not a zero-sum game in the eyes of most young men:

• Eight-in-ten young men (82%) disagree that extending more rights to women means that men will lose out.
• Only one-in-ten (11%) think that gender equality solely benefits women.

When describing what gender equality means to them:

• 80% say that it means that men and women have equal rights.
• 72% say it means that men and women have equal access to opportunities.

Among the report’s more alarming findings are:

• One out of every four young men does not disagree that “when a woman is raped, she usually did something careless to put herself in that situation.”
• One in four young men do not contest that “if a woman doesn't fight back, you can't really say it was rape.”
• Three-quarters of young men (77%) don't dispute that “it's unfair that women are not held accountable for their sexual behavior when they have been drinking, but men are.”

Teaching young men the importance of combating and how to combat violence against women when they witness it amongst their peers is not the only area where young men need assistance taking a stand. They also need training on how to be an ally when they witness someone their age being bullied because of their sexual orientation. 

Nearly three-quarters of young men (72%) believe it is important to get involved when they witness someone their age being bullied because of their sexual orientation. Yet a majority of young men (56%) do not feel comfortable involving themselves in these situations.

When someone is being bullied because of their sexual orientation, the older a man is, the more comfortable he feels interceding (37% comfortable among junior high boys, 43% comfortable among high school boys, and 48% comfortable among post-high school men).

Organizations working to engage young men have a unique opportunity to leverage the belief young men hold that women and others should be treated with respect; the importance young men attach to intervening when they see bullying and fighting among their peers; and traits young men ascribe to good men and male role models. Together, these form the foundation upon which an effort to promote aspirational, authentic, and intersectional views of healthy masculinity can thrive.

This research also emphasized the power of a strong role model in a young man’s life. When describing a male role model, nearly two-thirds of young men (65%) note that they are describing a male relative, with nearly half (48%) choosing their father. However, while young men most often see fathers and male relatives as their male role model, celebrity influencers are also seen as powerful to leverage in any public education effort.

The report was launched in conjunction with the 2018 National Summit on Adolescent and Young Male Health.

GfK conducted a representative online survey of 777 young men between the ages of 11 and 24. The sample was divided across the following life stages and includes: 257 junior high school boys, 262 high school boys, and 258 post-high school men. The survey was administered from March 15-April 3, 2017 using GfK’s KnowledgePanel™, a probability-based panel recruited using address-based sampling (ABS).

The questionnaire was developed in consultation with the following organizations and individuals. Joyful Heart is grateful for their dedication, input, and feedback.

Joyful Heart Foundation Board Members
Ted Bunch and Anna Marie Johnson Teague, A CALL TO MEN
Steve LePore, 1in6
Lee Giordano, Men Stopping Violence
Tolu Lawrence, The Representation Project
Dr. Jackson Katz, Anti-Sexist Activist, Author, Filmmaker, Mentors in Violence Prevention
Dr. Nolan Cabrera, Associate Professor, University of Arizona
Dr. Beth Richie, Director of Institute of Research on Race and Public Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago
Rachel Howald, Creative Director for the NO MORE PSA campaign
Chief Gary MacNamara, Chief of Police, Town of Fairfield, Connecticut Police Department
Jimmie Briggs, Human Rights Advocate and Journalist
Carrie Hughes and Stuart Conklin, Verizon Foundation
Niels Schuurmans and Alexandra Janello Tuck, Viacom
Morgan Soloski
Traci DeTomasi, No More
Shan Foster, MEND
Karen Earl, Jenesse Center
Laura Talmus, Beyond Differences
Dr. Michael Kimmel, Professor, Stony Brook University
Thomas Page McBee, Author, Former Masculinity Expert for VICE, Editorial Director at Quartz
Geoff Ward, Associate Professor, Criminology, Law & Society, University of California, Irvine
Connie Burk, NW Network