Men are also harmed by gender norms. Equimundo’s research finds that men do experience real pressures from society to be providers to their families. However, these norms and expectations about what constitutes masculinity  also limit men's emotional lives, relationships, and wellbeing. Authoritarian actors exploit gendered norms and expectations, turning to blaming immigrants, feminists, or marginalized communities to explain why men are struggling to meet these expectations. The effectiveness of the authoritarian’s exploitation is augmented by the fact, Equimundo’s findings reveal, that men are much less likely to seek support when they are struggling, making them susceptible to narratives that blame particular communities for their struggles. Effective counter-strategies have to acknowledge difficulties genuinely, without either validating the false narratives nor essentializing men and masculinity to the role of provider. 

The division between politics and entertainment has collapsed, opening up opportunities to socialize men into extremist ideologies in seemingly apolitical or non-partisan spaces. Men and boys encountering anti-feminist and anti-democratic ideas online are rarely looking for political content. Instead, they're looking for fitness advice, financial guidance, or dating tips. Authoritarian-aligned content reaches them through those entry points, blending genuinely useful material with values-laden messaging about hierarchy and scapegoating. Counter-strategies have to understand these spaces and engage a similar emotional register — not simply push back reactively on the most extreme content, or blame men for engaging with it.

Learn to speak the language of the communities you want to reach. Equimundo's work in gaming communities on Discord required translating their entire methodology into terms that resonated with those communities: emotional regulation became "tilt control," communication skills became "clear comms," attunement became "clutch." This required months of work in genuine collaboration with community members. This had the added benefit of building those members' own capacity to provide social care and connection in ways that feel authentic to their community.

Design for behavior change. Norms shift through repeated experience. Equimundo's interventions focus on creating opportunities for men to practice healthier ways of relating — curiosity, follow-up questions, asking for support — embedded in communities they already trust and value. 

Accountability and empathy are not incompatible. Designing interventions with genuine care for men and boys does not mean avoiding accountability. Equimundo works with gaming communities that have built structured, community-run processes for addressing harm without permanent exclusion. These approaches allow men to see themselves as stakeholders in community wellbeing, not just subjects of correction.