The conversation about men and about masculinity is gaining visibility. This conversation often leans towards panic: For instance, the recent widely seen Netflix show Adolescence was an upsetting wake-up call to many parents and others about the online lives of young men. The decline in boys’ educational attainment and stagnation in the workplaces, particularly among lower-income and racialised boys and men, has raised further concern. Men’s decreased support for full equality for women and girls is further reason for worry.
Equimundo’s 2017 Man Box study looked at young men in the United States and the United Kingdom and found that many were finding solace in a version of manhood that valued violence over dialogue, domination over respect, and isolation over seeking help from others. It is a version of manhood rooted in fear and uncertainty. The study further revealed the harms to young men themselves, to those of us who care about them, and to women and girls.
This study builds on that 2017 research and on Equimundo’s State of American Men studies in 2023 and 2025. The two State of American Men reports found that high rates of young men feel confused, lonely, and are unsure about their futures. They often turn to online spaces in search of meaning. They also found that the more economically anxious men felt—particularly younger men—the more likely they are to support leaders who promote us-versus-them politics, and who would tear down public good and social justice work that we believe government can and should provide.