This report shines a light on the realities of what it means to be a teenage boy in Australia today. It highlights both promising signs and critical challenges that must be addressed to support boys in leading fulfilling lives – free from violence and other harmful behaviours.  

The Adolescent Man Box survey aimed to:

• understand what teenagers in Australia today think about masculinity – including their level of agreement with a set of tightly defined and rigid rules (referred to as the ‘Adolescent Man Box’)
• understand a range of behaviours and life outcomes experienced by adolescents – including use of aggression, use of pornography, risk-taking behaviours and mental health
• examine for adolescent boys the links between their personal endorsement of the Adolescent Man Box and their behaviours and life outcomes.

The report identifies twelve priority outcomes related to specific attitudes, behaviours, knowledge and skills of adolescent boys, as well as broader experiences of wellbeing. To achieve these outcomes, it puts forward: five recommendations for immediate policy and practice reform; and two recommendations for systemic reform.

The report is accompanied by five fact sheets.

Key findings

• There are encouraging signs that many boys are moving away from narrow and restrictive views of masculinity. This is especially true for the idea that boys must be emotionally stoic.
• Most boys believe in gender equality and reject sexist behaviours. The vast majority believe that girls should be treated as equals across all areas of life, and most express discomfort with witnessing sexist comments and harassment.  
• Despite the growing influence of online spaces, boys continue to rely on ‘real-life’ relationships – especially parents – for guidance on personal issues and their understanding of masculinity.   
• Most boys report feeling able to show vulnerability, whether with friends or family.
• Despite the pressures they face, most boys remain optimistic about their future.  

Key challenges

• Many boys feel pressure to always appear tough and confident.
• Those who most strongly internalise these restrictive masculine norms are more likely to hold harmful attitudes, engage in abusive behaviours and struggle with their own wellbeing.   
• A concerning proportion of boys expressed homophobic or transphobic views.
• A small but troubling number of boys report endorsing violence-supportive attitudes, retaliating when rejected or having recently engaged in harmful behaviours.
• Many of the boys surveyed are accessing pornography that depicts unsafe, aggressive or non-consensual acts.
• Mental health is another pressing concern. Many boys reported experiencing poor mental health, yet a significant number are not seeking support for personal or emotional issues.