The Power of Meaningful Conversations for Young People | Tomorrow Man & Woman

In my almost two years with Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman, one thing has always stood out to me – the power of having a deeper conversation. It sounds simple, I know, but in my time here, I’ve learnt that often the simple things can be the most impactful.

For some background, at Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman, we deliver engaging, participatory workshops all across Australia, run by highly skilled facilitators who specialise in creating close connections amongst students. They cultivate a safe space where students feel comfortable to open up, ask deeper questions of each other and themselves, and leave with the tools to author their own tomorrow. In a time where gender-based conversations are becoming increasingly front and centre in the media, we aim to help young people cut through the noise, bring their voices into the conversation, and find their own answers with the help of their peers, rather than online influences. 

With shows like Adolescence and Heartbreak High bringing the impact of the manosphere to the forefront of the conversation, this work has never felt more relevant. With Tomorrow Man, the drive to provide a clearer “blueprint” for what it means to be a man in modern society, is more important than ever. However, what can often be overlooked, or oversimplified, in these conversations, is the impact of the manosphere on women. Working across Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman gives us this unique perspective every day.

An insight we noticed early on was that in a Tomorrow Woman workshop, young women often bring up the boys; but in a Tomorrow Man workshop, girls are rarely mentioned. Since we work with an entire cohort in a school, we get to see both sides of the story – what the boys are talking about and the reality of how the girls are feeling as well. It’s a powerful vantage point that reveals the gaps, the overlaps, and the opportunities for change. We recently looked into the effects of the manosphere on young women and learnt that:

• Nearly 1 in 3 (31%) female-identifying high school students report negative impacts from male peers influenced by the manosphere, with safety being a major issue.
  • Approximately 1 in 4 (24%) female high school students in Australia feel unsafe at school due to these behaviours, with 10% of impacted students admitting to carrying weapons for protection
• Despite non-physical behaviours being most common, 22% of impacted girls reported physical abuse and 21% reported sexual abuse from influenced male peers.
• The top negative behaviours from influenced young men were dismissing or invalidating female peers’ views on gender inequality or sexism (44%), verbal bullying or harassment (43%), and creating hostile classroom dynamics (36%)

What this revealed to us was that, while it’s critical to tackle the growing influence of the manosphere on young men, as we are actively doing, we also need to address and provide support for the very real fear, concern and emotional toll young women are carrying as well.

In Tomorrow Woman workshops, we work with young women to re-discover their confidence and the strength of their voice. Together, we build their Personal and Social capability, and help them understand the power their ideas can hold – if they’re willing to express them. We want every young woman to know her worth, feel capable of speaking up, and seek help when she needs to, especially when faced with the impact of these influencers on her peers. 

It is a special experience to watch as, while the young men in one room are unpacking the pressure to be tough, stoic and in control, the young women in another room are learning to push past the fear and judgement that so often comes with their own gender stereotype. These workshop environments simultaneously create a solid training ground for the whole cohort. So, when every student walks out to lunch afterwards, they are equipped with the same communication skills, just learnt through a different lens and for a different need. 

“We don’t have all the answers to tackle every issue young people are facing, but we do believe that the starting point is simple: we need to have deeper, more meaningful conversations with our young people.”

Eliza Priest, NSW Programs Lead, Tomorrow Man & Tomorrow Woman

We don’t have all the answers to tackle every issue young people are facing, but we do believe that the starting point is simple: we need to have deeper, more meaningful conversations with our young people. But how do we do that? In our workshops we teach 4 easy tips for deeper communication that can be utilised by anyone:

1. Open up the Conversation: Start by creating a safe, comfortable space. Come in with an open-mind and be ready to breathe through any uncomfortable truths. Vulnerability sets the tone.
2. Respond with Curiosity over Judgement: Park any judgements. Instead of reacting, lean in and try to understand where they’re coming from.. Be respectful, get curious, and dig as deep into their thoughts as you can.
3. Ask Open-ended Questions: To get the most out of your curiosity, ensure your questions are open-ended. Try asking “What makes you feel that way?” or “How did that impact you?” These kinds of questions spark critical thinking and help young people explore their thoughts from new perspectives.
4. Listen Actively: This one is simple but powerful – be patient, and hold the silence if you need to. Let them speak without rushing in to fix or solve. This will show them you care and you’re genuine in wanting to get deeper

While it might feel daunting, the good news is that you do not need to have all the answers, and you are not alone in tackling these conversations. When we take a whole-community approach – parents, carers, teachers, and students –  we create a culture of open, honest communication that becomes part of everyday life. By consistently practising the skill of “going deeper”, we encourage our young people to do the same. 

Together, we can show the next generation that we’re not afraid to tackle the hard topics. We can equip them to think more critically, and shift the impact of gender stereotypes in Australia, one conversation at a time.

To get in touch, email us: workshops@tomorrowman.com.au or workshops@tomorrowwoman.com.au

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