AXE Canada Masculinity Study looks at what it means to be a ‘real man’

The majority of young men do not define themselves as masculine

TORONTO, ON (May 8, 2017) – A new study sponsored by AXE reveals that young men, ages 15 to 25, are shifting towards inclusivity and acceptance. The study supports a growing trend showing young men feel more comfortable to say things that may have been considered taboo in the past, or to participate in activities that may not have been socially acceptable.

The No. 1 men’s fragrance brand in the world wants to push the boundaries of masculinity by encouraging guys to find magic in themselves, and their friends. To champion this, teens are invited to participate in the first ever social movement that will encourage Gen Z to stop and think about – and ultimately defy – how society says a ‘real man’ should act.  

The study revealed 70 per cent of young men have been told that a ‘real man’ behaves a certain way. Young men exposed to this message are more likely to associate masculinity with being aggressive, desirable to girls, attractive, and tough, compared to those who have not heard this message.

How to Praise Up Marcus praising Kyle Kyle praising Marcus

Traditionally, male youth shy away from sharing their emotions because they’re afraid of being vulnerable. There’s a seismic shift in how youth are approaching male friendships, which debunks previous notions for how youth show intimacy or express feelings. Sixty-nine per cent of young men who have supportive guy friends said they are comfortable complimenting their friends on something they did well, compared to only 47 per cent of those who do not have supportive guy friends. Youth need the support and reassurance from their peers in order to be satisfied and comfortable with their outward behavior.

“Gen Z are consistently challenging the status quo,” said relationship and parenting expert, Dr. Karyn Gordon. “Teen boys are more confident and independent than earlier generations, and are increasingly receptive and accepting of individuality, rather than fitting the traditional mold. This study underscores the importance of maintaining supportive friendships to ensure young men are comfortable being themselves and not subscribing to stereotypical definitions of masculinity.”

Two of Toronto’s hero athletes who support this ideology include Toronto Blue Jay Marcus Stroman and Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry, who were first in line to participate in a branded campaign dubbed Praise Up. The power duo launched a series of online videos to encourage youth to tell their friends about their ‘something.’

“Our brand’s bold new direction celebrates modern masculinity,” said Dan Alter, Senior Marketing Director, Personal Care, Unilever. “We’re committed to taking action and empowering youth to find their magic.”

Other key findings from the Masculinity Study include:

  • 53 per cent of male friendship decisions are influenced by their guy friends, while only 34 per cent impact decisions about their appearance
  • 69 per cent of respondents who have supportive guy friends are comfortable giving a compliment on something their friend did well vs. only 47 per cent feel comfortable giving a compliment who do not have supportive guy friends
  • Young men who have supportive guy friends take 6.5 selfies before posting one to social media compared to young men who are not supported by their friends take an average of 18 selfies before posting one to social media

How to participate in Praise Up
The outdated and harmful norms of manhood limit guys’ self-expression, and AXE wants to change that. Praise Up is a social movement that aims to empower youth to own the magic in themselves and point it out in others.

To participate, record a video of you sneakily giving one of your best buds props for what makes him special without him knowing. Give him a shout out for his wit, his hair, his honesty, his spontaneity, his unique skills – whatever his magic may be. Post the video to Snapchat, share it on Instagram Stories, Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtag #YouGotSomething and challenging your friends to do the same.

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About Unilever Canada
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home Care, Personal Care and Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. In Canada, the Unilever portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe®, Becel®, Ben & Jerry's®, Breyers®, Degree®, Dove® personal care products, Hellmann's®, Klondike®, Knorr®, Lipton®, Magnum®, Nexxus®, Popsicle®, Q-Tips®, Simple®, St. Ives®, TRESemmé®, and Vaseline®. All of the preceding brand names are owned or used under license by Unilever Canada Inc. The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan commits to:

  • Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being by 2020.
  • Halving the environmental impact of our products by 2030.
  • Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.

Unilever ranked number one in its sector on the 2016 Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

For more information on Unilever Canada and its brands visit: www.unilever.ca
To connect with Unilever Canada via Twitter follow: @unilever_Canada
For more information on Axe visit: www.axe.ca
To connect with Axe Canada via Facebook visit: www.facebook.com/axecanada
To connect with Unilever U.S. via Twitter follow: @AXECanada
Join the conversation with #YouGotSomething

Snapchat: AXE Canada sponsored story
Twitter: @AXECanada
Facebook: @AXECanada
Instagram: @AXECanada, @mstrooo6 and @kyle_lowry7

For more information, please contact:

Caroline Dunnet
Edelman Canada
[email protected]
647.252.2864

Victoria Neufeld
Edelman Canada
[email protected]
416.849.8921

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