Since the rise of feminism, men can often feel uncertain of their precise role at home. Recent research from the University of British Columbia suggests that one’s masculine style plays a big role in how men navigate their intimate relationships.

After interviewing men from a range of cultural backgrounds, three core types of masculinity emerged:

• Neo-traditionalists—Some men largely follow traditional gender roles, such as being the provider and protector in the relationship
• Egalitarian—Others seek a more equal partnership, with an emphasis on mutuality and measurable give and take
• Progressive—Other men work on building gender equity in the partnership through regular, purposeful conversations with their partner to adjust who does what”

Relationship styles

“We set out to understand how different types of masculinities shape men’s relationships and their mental health. What we found was that these masculine types were associated with different benefits as well as challenges,” the researchers explain.

For example, men who actively supported gender equality and social fairness felt better mentally. But the researchers point out that men who questioned these ideas could end up feeling alone or facing criticism from others, which could affect their mental health. The study also found that some men who believed in equal sharing of household tasks still found it hard to understand the idea of achieving gender equality by splitting chores exactly 50-50.

“These shifts and stresses have implications for mental health,” the authors explain. “To promote meaningful change, we need to address the structures that influence men’s behaviors.”

To bring their work to a broader audience, the researchers have also created an online photo exhibition that features around 120 photographs from participants.

“There are photos depicting neo-traditional, egalitarian or progressive masculinity, and visitors are invited to take a quiz to decide which images fit with each masculinity. We’re not only highlighting our research outcomes, we’re also inviting input from visitors about how they see themselves—and how they build gender equity in their intimate partner relationships,” the researchers conclude.