Relatórios da Geração G: Masculinidades na Indonésia; Marrocos e Jordânia; e Ruanda, África do Sul e Uganda

Masculinities in Indonesia; Morocco and Jordan; and Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda

A three-report series from Equimundo offers a clear, data-driven look at how young men (ages 18–40) across six countries are navigating traditional social norms and changing gender roles in the digital age. At a time when debates about masculinity can turn loud and polarized, these studies cut through the noise with a simple throughline: young men are not inherently resistant to gender equality; they are searching for connection, purpose, and fair chances in a rapidly shifting world.

These reports were produced through the Generation Gender (Gen G) project, in collaboration with country partners across each region. Gen G equips youth leaders and civil society organizations to address the root causes of gender inequality and drive sustainable change. Working with a consortium that includes Equimundo, Rutgers, ABAAD, and Sonke Gender Justice, the program places young people at its center – both as catalysts for systemic transformation and as a key group to be engaged. In doing so, Generation G is helping to build more inclusive, stable, and equitable societies.

What These Reports Show

• Traditional roles remain powerful – and contradictory. Masculinity is widely linked to financial provision, authority, and social status, yet many men also want care, connection, and shared decision-making. Support for women’s political participation coexists with the belief that men make better leaders.
• Optimism amid pressure. Even as men worry about jobs and economic stability, most expect their lives – family relationships, finances, work – to improve over the next decade.
• Connection gaps and emotional toughness. Many men report close bonds, but a sizable share still feel unknown or unable to be vulnerable. Norms of self-reliance limit help‑seeking and open conversation.
• Perceived gender threat fuels backlash. When men feel sidelined – believing society ignores men’s issues or that men are “getting weaker” – they are more likely to reject gender equality, feel pessimistic, and disengage.
• Digital life shapes identity and control. Online spaces and influencers play outsized roles in how men think about success, relationships, and belonging. Technology is also used to monitor or control partners (e.g., checking phones or locations), with both men and women reporting these behaviors.
• Institutions and civic trust vary – but community action persists. Trust in formal institutions ranges from high to fragile across countries. Even where trust is low, peer‑led problem solving remains active.

What We Can Do

1. Address structural pressures by tackling youth unemployment, economic precarity, and weak institutional trust alongside gender norms.
2. Engage the digital sphere – challenge harmful content and elevate voices that model care, equality, and emotional resilience.
3. Reframe care as aspiration for men and boys, and back it with policies on paid leave and affordable care.
4. Invest in peer connection and safe spaces that normalize vulnerability and dialogue about mental health.
5. Prevent tech‑facilitated abuse through education, platform accountability, and enforcement of existing laws.

About the Research

The survey research took place in:

• Indonésia
• Morocco and Jordan
• Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda

These studies were conducted among 800 women and men aged 18-40. The questionnaire was translated and contextualized to each country. Data was collected online between November 2024 through February 2025.

Highlights by Report

• Masculinities in Indonesia: Optimism, Social Connections, and Digital Lives. Indonesian masculinity is closely tied to financial responsibility, authority, and family honor. Many men report strong belonging yet also isolation, with digital platforms both connecting and pressuring them. Views on equality are mixed: support for women’s representation sits alongside beliefs that men are better political leaders.
• Masculinities in Morocco and Jordan: Embodying Traditions with New Aspirations. A large share of men embrace traditional norms while also supporting certain care and equality policies. Political activism is limited, but many engage in community problem‑solving. Internet use is moderate; influencer landscapes differ across countries. Tech‑facilitated intrusion is common and disproportionately affects women.
• Masculinities in Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda: Connection, Purpose, and Care in a Changing World. Trust in institutions differs – higher in Rwanda, lower in South Africa, fragile in Uganda – yet peer‑based civic efforts are active. Many men want purpose and care, but rigid masculine norms still restrict emotional openness and support for equality.