Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have Completely Different Ideas Of What A Good Man Looks Like
VH-studio / ShutterstockGender is now viewed as a social construct, influenced by our experience and culture, but people didn't always see things that way. It should be no surprise to anyone living on Earth that perceptions of what it means to be a good man or woman vary so widely across generations.
Depending on the context of the times in which you grew up, you may think a good man looks quite different than one would look to your parents or your kids. None of their generalizations will apply to what every person of a certain age thinks, but there are certainly some basic thoughts about masculinity that tend to ring true to people who grew up in the same decades as each other.
Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers have different ideas of what it means to be a good man
Baby boomers tend to appreciate traditional masculinity
Boomers' ideas are constantly changing as they take in new information. After all, they are a generation that loves reinvention.
But for the most part, this is a generation that appreciates traditional norms. The kinds of expectations of men they were socialized into believing were typical still hold true for many of them, even if they are interested in what younger generations have to say about it.
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To boomers, a good man is one who is hard-working. They believe men should be protectors and providers for their households. In their opinion, a good man should be family-first, without needing any kind of praise from anyone to show up. He should also be self-sufficient, rarely asking for help or relying on other people, especially when it comes to mental health.
While many of the stereotypical traits that these boomer men carry as a badge of honor are more than controversial for young people, they are a product of the environment they grew up in.
Gen X's ideas about masculinity are somewhat more balanced
Gen Xers have been rightfully assigned the bridge between generations in many aspects of their lives, from the workplace to their family life. They still hold many of the values their boomer parents instilled in them, including their work ethic and love of independence, while also appreciating some of the more flexible and unconventional ideas of their Gen Z and millennial kids.
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This genre of good man is one who takes responsibility seriously. He’s independent and shies away from drama. He knows how to express himself, and he is both competent and resourceful, allowing more space for collaboration than the boomer men who were expected to hold the fort down by themselves completely.
Emotional availability and nonconformity are important factors in how Gen Z and millennials think of a good man
Certain traditional ideas about relationships and masculinity are coming back around for some millennials and Gen Z men, but for the most part, these generations are more progressive and interested in challenging stereotypes that don’t make sense for their lives anymore.
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For millennials, a good man is one who is deeply sensitive. Their vision couldn’t be more different from that of their Gen X and boomer parents and grandparents.
Both of these generations want to see softer, more emotionally intelligent, and flexible men in the media they consume, as they believe any good man should be vulnerable and open.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
