Mawout's story

Manhood to me is an ongoing journey. Being honest. And being loving. That’s what I say masculinity is to me.”

Mawout is a 27-year-old who arrived in Australia from Sudan as a child. He works as an advocate for young people, and is also an actor and has a landscape gardening business. Mawout didn’t have many male role models growing up; he and his four sisters were raised by his mum. His ideas about masculinity came from a mix of things – including Hollywood and church – but he credits his mum with teaching him how to be a man.

Family is important to Mawout and he takes seriously his role mentoring his nieces. One of them came to him when she was being bullied at school. This was an opportunity to let her know he is there for her and she can always speak to him, and now she comes to him for advice often. For Mawout, this is what masculinity is about – being caring, loving, and there for your family.  

In his role as a youth advocate, Mawout speaks to lots of young men grappling with the influence of social media. The sort of things that tell young men they need to be rich, have lots of women and be successful. His advice is to think about the kind of man you want to be, and the impact you want to leave behind.