Gen Z doesn’t want to see toxic masculinity on-screen anymore.In contrast to the stoic heroes Hollywood often portrays as protagonists, a new UCLA survey of 10-24-year-olds finds young audiences want to see emotionally vulnerable men. This is especially true of on-screen fathers: the majority (near 60%) want to see “joyful fatherhood” full of love and enjoyment of parenthood. But in general, nearly half (46%) said they want to see more male characters who openly ask for help, encouraging storylines that address mental health. This doesn’t mean young viewers never want to see a physically strong superhero or characters that are one-dimensional in this direction, though. We know Gen Z has divided opinions about gender representations, so there’s room for both. But studios who aren’t investing in positive portrayals of men connecting emotionally with others may want to sooner rather than later. (Deadline, Screen Rant)
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