A Man Like You

In 2018, men's grooming brand Harry’s started trying to set itself apart from the competition with a short film that tenderly shows that masculinity can have a softer side. It tells the story of a boy who befriends an alien and teaches him how to be a man, giving way to tender reflection as the boy asks the alien if he has seen his father in the stars.

Discuss the story and its meaning by asking participants to respond to some of the following questions:

• What do you think the story was about?

• Do you agree with the idea that there is no one way to be a man?

• What is something that matters to you that is not part of the stereotype about boys and men?

• What might make it hard to break stereotypes and be yourself?

• How can you support each other in being the kind of young men you want to be?

This is an excerpt from Next Gen Mentors, our set of resources and community of practice for facilitators working with boys and nonbinary youth on topics of mental health, healthy relationships and gender equality.