Rebranding Male Role Models

June 2026

For generations, the male role model was branded as someone who could not bend, could not break, and could not let the world see him feel too much. Strength was often measured by how much a man could carry without complaint, how much emotion he could suppress, and how much control he could maintain in his home, his work, and his relationships.

This month’s focus on men, fathers, and strong male leadership comes at a time when we are seeing a different kind of manhood take shape online. The internet gets a lot of fair criticism, but one thing it has done is give people access to new examples of manhood. We are seeing men talk openly about therapy, emotional regulation, fatherhood, apologies, softness, and the work it takes to be present. In a very real way, the internet is helping rebrand the male role model by rebranding the concept of strength itself.

I saw a TikTok recently that stuck with me. In the video, a father is taking off his belt, and for many viewers, there is an immediate sense of dread. You could feel the assumption forming in the comments and reactions because, for so many people, “dad taking off his belt” meant punishment. 

But that’s not what happened. The child in the video was jumping with excitement because, to them, the belt was not a warning sign or something to fear. Their excitement only grew as their dad held one end of the belt in each hand, creating a swing for them to play on rather than a tool for discipline. In that child’s mind, the belt had been completely rebranded from something many people recognized as punishment into a symbol of safety, imagination, and connection with their father.

That moment felt bigger than one video because it showed what a different kind of male leadership can create. This generation’s version of a strong man feels less tied to fear and more rooted in intention. He is still a protective leader, but his protection is given through love, and his leadership isn’t contingent on control. He is still strong, but his strength has room for tenderness, patience, and accountability.

This is why public storytelling matters. The stories we put in front of people can either reinforce old expectations or open the door to new ones. When healthy, emotionally aware men are visible, especially as fathers, partners, friends, and leaders, they give people a different image to recognize and repeat.

For those doing meaningful work behind the scenes and looking to amplify their voice, we created a free guide: The 10 Commandments of Effective Media Relations: a practical resource to help you build stronger relationships and get your message heard.

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