Conversation Starters: Exploring Masculinity Together

Equimundo’s Conversation Starters are a set of 10 illustrated cards designed to spark meaningful dialogue about masculinity, gender norms, and healthier pathways for boys and young men. These cards are meant for people 13+ years old. For conversation starters for younger audiences, visit the Iniciativa Global da Infância.

Each card features a thought-provoking illustration on the front and a series of guiding questions on the back to help initiate reflection and discussion. The images are intentionally open-ended, inviting participants to interpret what they see, connect it to their own experiences, and examine the often-unspoken rules that shape how boys learn to “be a man.”

These cards are designed to move conversations beyond blame or defensiveness and toward curiosity, empathy, and growth. They create accessible entry points into complex topics such as peer pressure, emotional expression, power and relationships, media influence, and the tension many boys feel between authenticity and acceptance. Rather than offering prescriptive answers, the Conversation Starters help participants build the critical thinking skills necessary to question harmful norms and imagine healthier alternatives.

The resource is flexible and adaptable across settings. Parents and caregivers can use the cards to open honest conversations at home. Educators and facilitators can integrate them into classrooms, youth groups, sports teams, or community spaces. Young people themselves can use them in peer discussions. Whether in a structured workshop or an informal setting, the cards help create space where boys feel invited—not judged—to reflect on who they are becoming.

At Equimundo, we believe that healthier masculinities are cultivated through dialogue, self-awareness, and collective reflection. Boys and young men are often navigating intense and contradictory expectations around toughness, dominance, emotional control, and status. Without safe opportunities to question these pressures, many internalize norms that can undermine their mental health, relationships, and engagement in school and community life. These Conversation Starters are designed to help change that dynamic—by fostering environments where vulnerability is normalized, empathy is valued, and boys are supported in developing identities rooted in care, respect, and equity.

This resource reflects our broader commitment to engaging boys and men as part of the solution to advancing gender equality. By creating spaces for honest conversation, we expand what is possible—for boys, for families, and for communities.