Centre for Social Justice: Boys Should Follow Grandads’ Life Choices

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, July 12, 2026

The Centre for Social Justice found that British men who follow a traditional life path—completing education, working, marrying, then having children—are over twice as likely to feel financially secure in adulthood. The report urges expanded male mentorship programs to help more boys adopt these stable life choices and reduce the growing number of young men disengaged from work and education.

A recent report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) suggests that British boys who adopt life choices similar to those of their grandfathers—completing education, gaining employment, marrying, and then having children—are more likely to achieve financial stability in adulthood. The think tank’s research, based on polling of 2,100 UK adults, indicates that men following this sequence are more than twice as likely to describe their financial situation as "living comfortably" or "doing all right" compared to those who do not.

According to the survey, 69% of men who completed education, entered work, married, and then had children reported feeling financially secure, whereas only 28% of men who did not follow this sequence expressed the same confidence. The report, titled *Boy to Man*, raises concerns about increasing numbers of "lost boys" who face limited life prospects, noting that since 2019, the proportion of young men not engaged in work, education, or training has grown nearly four times faster than for young women.

The CSJ’s findings also highlight benefits for women. Among men and women aged 25 to 34 who adhered to the full sequence, just 5% reported household incomes below £21,000, while a significantly larger share—about one in three—of those who completed none of the steps fell below this threshold.

Former Royal Marine and ex-defence minister Al Carns endorsed the report, emphasizing that boys require practical guidance rather than “vague sympathy or slogans.” He stated, “If we want better men, we must help boys become them.” Luke Taylor, a senior researcher at the CSJ, added that boys would benefit from less focus on restrictive gender behavior or negative masculinity and more on understanding what a stable and productive life looks like.

The think tank also advocates for the expansion of male mentorship programs to support boys' development. The report argues that such initiatives could play a critical role in encouraging young men to adopt constructive life paths and improve their long-term well-being.

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