UCalgary student explores Gen Z masculinity in national research project

Are views on masculinity changing? A student in the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work is hoping to find out with a national research project on how Gen Z men across Canada define what it means to 'be a man'.

Fourth-year Bachelor of Social Work student Charles Panabaker’s project is titled “Your Voice: Experiences, Understandings and Perceptions of Gender for Gen Z Men in Canada.” 

“There’s a dizzying amount of change happening in Canadian society, and gender-related issues affect them all in one way or another,” says Panabaker.

“I think Gen Z men are feeling uncertain, and even insecure or vulnerable, about several significant aspects of their lives.”   

Panabaker’s work is supervised by social work associate professor Dr. Liza Lorenzetti, a longtime advocate for gender justice and men's roles in violence prevention.

“Public discourse on gender is increasingly polarized,” says Lorenzetti, MSW’06, PhD’16. 

“While there has been notable progress in equity-centred policy and social norms over the years, there is evidence that we are living through a period of backlash.”

Research explores perceptions

The project aims to better understand how Gen Z men across Canada perceive masculinity, gender norms and social identity. 

Generation Z, refers to people — sometimes referred to as 'Zoomers'— born between 1996 and 2010, although some definitions of Gen Z include people born as late as 2012. 

“The perspectives of young men are often missing from conversations  about identity, equality and belonging, with little research that focuses on the perspectives and experiences of Gen Z men” says Lorenzetti.

“Our study addresses a critical gap with potential impacts to services, supports and social policy.”

The influence of social media and relationships

The research will also explore how influences such as social media, school, family and peer groups shape beliefs about what it means to 'be a man', and how those beliefs intersect with views on gender roles, politics, mental health and inclusion.

The project is supported by a UCalgary Program for Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE) award, which provides up to $7,500 in funding.  The PURE award funds undergraduate research for eight, 12 or 16 weeks between May and August. Open to students in any faculty or discipline, the program offers hands-on research experience.

Panabaker was motivated to apply for the PURE award after taking a research course with Lorenzetti, where he learned about her work with the Alberta Men’s Network (AMN). 

“It’s exciting to contribute to the work of the AMN, which is both deeply personal and socially relevant,” says Panabaker. “I believe it’s important to amplify the voices of this generation of Canadian men in conversations about masculinity.” 

Generating conversations across Canada

The research builds on a decade-long community-UCalgary partnership with AMN and other organizations such as the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women.

The study uses a short, anonymous online survey to gather responses from self-identified Gen Z men (18 to 25 years old) across the country. The survey is open until Aug. 10.

“We’re already generating conversation across Canada,” says Panabaker, who has been interviewed by CBC about the project.

“I hope this research can serve as a starting point for future studies to gain a deeper understanding of the issues and explore ways to navigate it collectively as a society.”

Lorenzetti adds, she hopes the research will open up space for positive and healthy conversations on masculinity for future generations. 

Participate in the Your Voice survey here. Learn more by following YourVoice2025 on X or YourVoiceCanada on all other social media platforms.