The Need
Mocha Man Foundation exists because boys and men are often under-supported in reading, creative participation, and healthy connection. The data below helps explain why our work focuses on literacy and the arts.
Boys and men read less
National survey data shows a persistent gender gap in reading, especially fiction.
In 2022, about 46.9% of women read a novel or short story, compared with 27.7% of men. National Endowment for the Arts
That gap matters because reading strengthens vocabulary, attention, empathy, and communication, which supports everything from school and work to relationships and self-confidence.
Men participate less in many arts experiences
Arts participation is not one thing, it’s many different behaviors. But across several common in-person activities, men participate at lower rates than women.
In 2022, women reported higher participation than men in:
Craft fairs (20% vs. 14%)
Art museums or galleries (20% vs. 16%)
Live performances (40% vs. 35%) National Endowment for the Arts
This matters because the arts are a practical pathway to expression, confidence, and community. When men opt out, they lose an accessible way to process life and stay connected.
Men are less likely to turn to friends for emotional support
A big part of health and stability is having someone you can call before things fall apart.
In a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, 54% of women said they’d be very likely to turn to a friend for emotional support, compared with 38% of men. Pew Research Center
When men rely on a smaller support network, stress compounds and isolation gets normalized.
Social isolation raises health risks
Social isolation and loneliness are not just “sad,” they are health risks.
CDC notes that social isolation and loneliness can increase risk for heart disease and stroke, depression and anxiety, dementia, and earlier death. CDC
The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory summarizes research finding that loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher risk of premature death (26% and 29%, respectively). HHS
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