Thanks to the courage of those who have fought and continue to fight for a more accepting world from themselves and their children the public debate around masculinity is changing in a positive way.

Despite this progress, prejudices and stereotypes persist, and the challenges that men endure to find an accepting and nurturing environment are still high.

In fact, boys and men still face significant social pressure related to notions of masculinity among peers, in the workplace, and within their personal relationships.

The freedom to express and accept oneself within traditional models of masculinity is often sidelined and discredited, leading to a rigidity that frequently results in negative consequences both for men and those around them.

In fact, the suicide rate among men is three times higher than that among women, and due to cultural reasons it is much more difficult for men to seek social or professional support when they are in distress.

Moreover, the difficulty in processing and constructively expressing uncomfortable and complex emotions can lead to aggressive behaviors toward both other men and women.

The young men in the photographs and I explored the concept of masculinity by examining their relationship with their fathers and grandfathers. We observed how the notion of being a man has changed and continues to change over time, and we sought to build intentionality in defining what “being a man” could mean for us and for future generations.