📄 social_science

The Man Box in India: Three dimensions of contemporary masculinity among Indian youth

This quantitative study of 1,105 Indian college students reveals that while men endorse the "Man Box" more than women, contemporary Indian masculinity is characterized by a hybrid integration of traditional and transformative values rather than polarization, offering a significant opportunity to promote healthy masculinities by leveraging the strong endorsement of positive traits like caring and emotional expression.

Original authors: Francis kulandai Raj F, Vijayalakshmi V

Published 2026-07-06

📖 5 min read🧠 Deep dive

CC BY 4.0

Original authors: Francis kulandai Raj F, Vijayalakshmi V

Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ✨ This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer

Imagine masculinity not as a single, rigid statue carved from stone, but as a backpack that young men in India carry. Inside this backpack are various items: some are heavy, old-fashioned tools (like "be tough" or "don't show feelings"), and some are newer, lighter tools (like "be kind" or "listen to your emotions").

This study, conducted by researchers at Vellore Institute of Technology, asked 1,105 Indian college students (mostly aged 16–25) to unpack their backpacks and see what they consider essential for being a "real man." They used a tool called the "Man Box," which is like a checklist of societal rules that tell men how to behave.

Here is what the researchers found, explained simply:

1. The Backpack is Lighter Than Expected

In many Western countries, the "Man Box" is often heavy with rules about violence, dominance, and never showing weakness. However, the Indian students' backpacks were surprisingly light on these heavy items.

The Good News: Most young Indian men rejected the idea that men should be violent, aggressive, or refuse to do household chores. In fact, the most popular traits they chose to define a man were caring, polite, and emotional.
The Bad News: The heaviest items left in the backpack were homophobia and transphobia (negative attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people) and the pressure to "act tough" even when scared. This was the area where men scored highest on the "Man Box" scale.

2. The Gender Gap: Two Different Maps

When the researchers compared the backpacks of young men and young women, they found they were walking to different destinations.

Women's Backpacks: Young women were much more likely to throw out the old rules. They strongly rejected violence and dominance and were more likely to say that being "caring" and "soft" makes a good man.
Men's Backpacks: While men were also rejecting the worst parts of the old rules, they still held on to them more tightly than women did. There is a "gap" between what young women expect from men and what young men believe they should be.

3. Three Types of Backpacks (The Three Dimensions)

The researchers didn't just see one big group of men; they found three distinct "profiles" or types of backpacks among the young men:

The "Harmful" Group (About 15%): These men carried the heaviest backpacks. They believed in violence, aggression, and dominating others. They were the most likely to strictly follow the old, rigid rules and the least likely to care about progressive values.
The "Traditional" Group (About 65%): This is the largest group. They carried a mix. They believed in being "tough," "brave," and "independent," but they also believed in being "caring" and "polite." They didn't see these as opposites; they thought a man could be strong and kind at the same time.
The "Transformative" Group (About 60–75%): These men carried the lightest backpacks. They focused on being caring, polite, and emotional. Interestingly, this group overlapped significantly with the Traditional group. This suggests that for most Indian men, being a "good man" doesn't mean choosing between being tough or being kind—they can be both.

4. The "Hybrid" Backpack

The most interesting finding is that Indian masculinity isn't a straight line from "bad old ways" to "good new ways." Instead, it's a hybrid.
Think of it like a fusion restaurant. Just as a restaurant might serve a dish that mixes traditional Indian spices with modern cooking techniques, these young men are mixing traditional values (like bravery) with modern values (like emotional expression). They aren't throwing away their heritage; they are updating it.

5. What Influences the Backpack?

Money: Men from wealthier families tended to have lighter backpacks (more progressive views).
Location: Men from Southern Indian states (like Kerala and Tamil Nadu) had lighter backpacks than men from other regions. This is likely due to historical movements in those areas that promoted education and equality.
Religion: Men who identified as atheists had the lightest backpacks, while those from certain religious groups (like Jains and Muslims) had slightly heavier ones, though the differences weren't huge.
Caste: Surprisingly, the study found no difference based on caste. This might be because college campuses are places where caste distinctions are less visible, or because the younger generation is moving away from these old divisions.

The Bottom Line

The study concludes that the "Man Box" in India is not a prison for most young men. Instead, it's a work-in-progress.

The Majority: Most young men are already on the path to being healthier, more caring, and more emotional. They just need encouragement to keep going.
The Minority: A small group (about 15%) still holds onto the most harmful, violent, and rigid ideas. These are the ones who need the most help and specific programs to change their views.
The Challenge: The biggest hurdle remaining is not violence or household chores, but acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. Even though many men say they are "tolerant," they still hold deep-seated negative views about gay and transgender individuals.

In short, Indian young men are building a new kind of masculinity that is a blend of the old and the new, but they need help to fully drop the heavy, harmful items (like homophobia) that are still stuck in their backpacks.