Unlearning "Toxic Masculinity": The Unspoken Reality Facing Young Men Today!

About This Video

This Y+Global podcast episode was filmed at the MenEngage symposium in Mombasa in 2026. Advocates from across Eastern and Southern Africa break down the profound impact that gender-inequitable social norms have on adolescent boys and young men. Grounded in recent research published by UNICEF, with Universities of Cape Town and Oxford, the discussion reveals that harmful masculine expectations are learned much earlier than most people realize—often before age 13—and are reinforced through the home, schools, and peer groups. The panel examines how societal pressures forcing men to appear "tough" or dominant directly fuel negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes, leading to lower rates of medical care seeking, inconsistent condom use, severe mental health burdens, and dangerous practices like using unapproved sex enhancement drugs. To counteract these risks, the speakers outline practical strategies for community-level intervention, emphasizing the urgent need to establish safe spaces for honest dialogue, engage the older generation to shift deeply rooted power dynamics, and leverage existing community structures like schools, sports pitches, and local gathering spots.