More than ever, men are recognising that the old scripts of masculinity can hurt them, and the people around them.
In What Kind of Man Do You Want to Be? we asked a group of ordinary Victorian men about the expectations and pressures they felt, and how those expectations shaped their decisions and actions.
One very clear response was how much men want to talk about the kind of man they each want to be... but sometime's it's difficult to start that conversation.
The links we’ve brought together on this page are a mix of information and more men’s stories to help get you – and the other men in your life – talking about what kind of man you want to be.
Prompts for you and your mates
- What Kind of Man Do You Want to Be? video playlist: The stories of this campaign, all in one place.
- Rethinking the 'rules' of being a man: In this article, we start looking beyond the 'rules’ of masculinity, and ask: how do we really want to show up in our lives?
- How harmful ideas about masculinity and men’s use of violence are connected: Learn how the pressures men face can be harmful for you and the people around you.
- InnerBoy App: This free 30-day program from the team at She Is Not Your Rehab supports you to change the scripts you’ve learned and break cycles of intergenerational trauma.
- The barbershop where men go to heal: See where She Is Not Your Rehab began in Matt Brown’s TED Talk.
- How can I help create a better online gaming community?: Tips from the eSafety Commission.
- That Guy: Frank conversations with men about choosing not to be “that guy”, from Police Scotland.
- The Line: What’s OK and what’s not when it comes to sex, dating and relationships.
Resources for parents
Parents of younger children:
- Family Man: a research-backed hub of parenting strategies from Movember, designed with dads in mind.
- Talking to children about consent: Knowing about boundaries and body autonomy helps adults protect children against abuse and prepares them for a lifetime of respectful relationships.
- Why we keep talking about housework: Modelling respectful relationships at home.
- Raising sons to embrace healthy, positive masculinity: 9 tips from Plan International, The Men’s Project and Equimondo.
Parents of older children:
- Young men online: Information from the eSafety Commission understanding the online landscape young men experience, for better and for worse.
Resources for sports clubs
- More than a game: the power of local sport: How local sports clubs can shape what it means to ‘be a man’, support healthy relationships and level the playing field for everyone.
- Ahead of the Game: Movember's youth mental health and resilience program for local sports clubs.
- Safe and Inclusive Sport: Resources from Sport and Recreation Victoria for community sports clubs to influence positive attitudes and behaviours.
Resources for working with boys and young men
- The Men’s Project: Support for men and boys to live respectful, accountable and fulfilling lives free from behaviours that harm themselves and those around them.
- The Man Cave: Preventative mental health programs that create long-term positive shifts.
- Global Boyhood Initiative: Practical tools and strategies for parents, researchers and educators to support the emotional and social growth of boys in your life.
Resources for working with communities
- How to start a conversation about suicide: Jeremy Forbe’s TED Talk speaks to creating suitable spaces for communities (in this case, tradies) to open up.
- Men in Focus: Videos, infographics and practitioner guides from Our Watch to support work with men.
- Understanding masculinities self-learning booklet: An introduction to masculinities for practitioners and advocates from UN Women.
- Working Together with Men: How to create male allies for gender equity in your community: Guidance from HealthWest Partnership Victoria, supporting men to make personal and collective change.
Campaign resources
- What Kind of Man Do You Want to Be? campaign background: Understand the research and processes that informed this campaign.
- Campaign toolkit: Information to help you promote the campaign, including social media assets and messaging.
Need support?
The Men's Referral Service is the national counselling, information and referral service for men seeking to change their behaviour, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1300 766 491.
MensLine Australia is a telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1300 789 978.
Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14.
Beyond Blue provides free telephone and online counselling services for everyone in Australia, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1 300 22 4636.
If you are experiencing violence, concerned for your safety, or in an emergency situation please call 000 for urgent police assistance. If you need support or advice, reach out to a specialist family violence support service.