Posted on 05/30/2026 3:12:29 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA study finds Gen Z and Gen Alpha want to see caring, affectionate dads and men showing vulnerability in movies and TV, rejecting outdated masculine stereotypes.
Joyful fatherhood was the single most requested portrayal of masculinity by adolescents surveyed by the researchers, with nearly 60% of young people asking to see more fathers openly showing love and enjoying parenting.
46% of respondents are seeking content that shows men asking for help, including with their mental health.
"For today’s young audiences, the most compelling hero isn’t the one standing alone, but the one who has the courage to be present.”

(Excerpt) Read more at newsroom.ucla.edu ...
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At this point, anytime a “survey” says anything one assumes that it’s just what the people who did the survey want you to think and nothing more than that. It all depends on what they ask, what the possible answers are, and who they ask.
The Winstons - Color Him Father
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPrJKUvom1s
This is how a “real” dad is, even if he’s a step-dad.
I don’t know but that these responses sound prompted.
I never said there wasn’t. All men have their struggles.
One of the most heartwarming, family-oriented comedies just wrapped up its final episode after seven years on CBS—The Neighborhood. The show creator also did The Big Bang. It’s about a black family and a white family living next door to each other in Los Angeles, both with growing or grown sons, and the wives working in the same school. Clean humor, clever comparisons of white and black stereotypes but no preaching or wokeism, and lots of laughs. I will really miss that show.
Releasing our secret
Turn in your mancard
Bullcrap. The Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA wants to see that, I highly doubt they really spoke to or give a single damn about what those generations want.
They will kick your ass (verbally and/or physically) if you do something wrong, stupid, or amoral/illegal. They will also work hard to provide for you. And, they will die to protect and defend you, so long as you are worthy of it.
Those three things generally don’t leave much time for being “vulnerable”.
YES! It was actually one of the films that came to mind (To Kill a Mockingbird) - Thank you for posting. :)
There is room for quintessential ‘masculine’ boys & men confronting genuine mental & spiritual struggles...
^ And to add: there is a beautiful Bible verse where St. Paul recounts God comforting him in the middle of struggle with these words:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
"Vulnerability" does not equate to failure, it's a reminder of man's need for God.
Money is what wins over the women statistically in real life. It’s been that way for a long time.
The apple is metaphorical money
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