Boys will be better
Boys are taught during the most impressionable years of their life that "boys will be boys.” This conditions young boys to believe that abusive behavior is excusable because of their gender. PBS aims to expose toxic masculinity which has created body entitlement, disrespect, and the idea that women are nothing more than objects. PBS is using Sesame Street to break the cycle of misogyny that has long dehumanized women, objectified their bodies, and dismissed their voices. By redefining masculinity, PBS is raising a generation of boys that know boundaries are sacred and consent is non-negotiable. This is far more than a lesson, it’s a movement to create a world where every woman is seen for her value, not her body.
Gentle Bop It
The PBS Kids “Gentle Bop It” is designed to recondition aggressive behavior, encouraging gentle, mindful interactions through soft-touch sensors and calming prompts. We’re helping boys unlearn destructive habits before they need a court date.
Elmo’s got a PSA
Elmo is taking his voice beyond Sesame Street to spark meaningful conversations on high-traffic platforms like Inside the NBA to educate boys on becoming better men. Through these appearances, Elmo will cover difficult topics like sexual assault, physical and emotional abuse, and the importance of respecting women.
Not your Dad’s Definition of a Man
During Women’s Awareness Month, PBS teams up with Google to rewrite the world’s most-searched masculinity myth. Type in “man,” and forget the chest-pounding, ego-driven, insecure dad-approved version. This digital intervention disrupts outdated ideals and plants powerful seeds of change. One search at a time, we're deleting toxic traditions and replacing them with truth. Because being a man isn’t about what your dad taught you, it’s about what she didn’t have to endure.
Bert and Ernie Start a Podcast
In a historical move, Bert and Ernie launch a podcast designed to start real conversations with young boys, and the men raising them. In each episode, they discuss sexual abuse, domestic violence, and valuing women. This intentional defiance aims to break down harmful behaviors ignored or excused in boyhood. This isn’t playtime, it’s a rebellion against misogyny. Because it’s never too early, or too late, to teach that being a man means protecting, listening, and respecting. No excuses. No exceptions. Just better men, one episode at a time.