A youth-led co-design project to redefine masculinity

Young
people
leading
change

Young people have the knowledge, experience and desire to act as agents of change in social challenges - in fact, they are essential.

This project handed the power back, creating space for a team of young people to design their own intervention, while simultaneously unpacking their own attitudes towards gender stereotypes, social norms, and the influences of role models.

As part of our campaign, we have created a series of short videos talking to men, boys, fathers, and sons about what being 'manly' means to them in 2024.

Meet Ben and Finn.

What does it mean to be a father?
A role model? A mentor?

Our early insights flagged that fathers are still the most dominant force in young men's lives - a guiding force for their attitudes and values. We spoke to Ben and Finn about this dynamic.

Meet Nathan and Tom.

As gender roles become less defined, being a 'good human' becomes more and more important.

In an ever-changing world, Dads told us that they are struggling to hold onto traditional values as a way to maintain their sense of self. We spoke to Nathan and Tom about breaking down these values in the modern day.

Meet Marshall.

How do you balance between strong with being vulnerable? Being stoic with being sensitive?

We heard from young men that its important to have spaces to healthily express their emotions. As a mental health advocate, Marshall spoke to us about how emotions can be powerful.

Meet Jarred.

What if masculinity was less about stereotypes and more about character?

There are a lot of places you can pick up ideas about what it means to be a man - but for Jarred, it was about stepping outside of the mould and defining his own path.

Meet Dylan and Jaden.

What does resilience really mean? Putting on a brave face, or showing what’s underneath?

For FIFO workers, it can be a constant balancing act between providing for and being present for your family. We spoke to Dylan and Jade about how, in the end, it's about modelling strength in a way that your family can feel.

Meet Optamus and Daz.

Does masculinity come from providing, or from how you show up in your family’s life?

For Opt and Daz, music was once everything – but fatherhood and shifting gender roles reshaped how they saw themselves as men. We spoke to them about rewriting the script on masculinity.

Be a part of the change

Join our community and share the broad range of attributes and activities that make you 'manly'

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