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How do the crises of climate breakdown, growing economic inequality, and rising misogyny intersect, and what is the connection with patriarchy and men’s practices? Why do the impacts of the climate crisis – such as increased men’s violence, food scarcity, and 'natural' disasters – fall disproportionately on women and girls? How is 'strongman' political leadership consolidating power and systematically rolling back women's rights and undermining environmental action? What is the role of the broligarchy, AI, and the manosphere in accelerating these harms, spreading misogyny and damaging the lives of boys and men as well as women and girls?  These are some of the key questions we discuss with Natasha Walter, inspired by her new book ‘Feminism for a World on Fire’. Natasha highlights how feminist movements urgently need to navigate internal divisions, resist the individualisation of activism, and build coalitions which can respond collectively to the challenges of the nature and climate emergencies and hypermasculine authoritarianism. Drawing inspiration from examples such as the women-led Kurdish militia in Rojava, Syria and her 15-year directorship of the UK charity Women for Refugee Women, Natasha argues that care must become a core economic and societal priority, to which men must contribute. We conclude by exploring Natasha’s reflections on her long-standing involvement in feminist activism, and her confidence in men's capacity to challenge patriarchy and act as meaningful allies. Natasha has worked as a journalist for the Guardian, Independent and Observer newspapers in the UK, and is the founder and former director of Women for Refugee Women. She has been Visiting Professor of Women’s Rights at Cambridge University and is currently Honorary Professor at the Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice at Queen Mary University of London. Her previous books include ‘Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism’, ‘The New Feminism’, and the memoir ‘Before the Light Fades’.  Natasha’s websiteInstagramLinkedInBlueskyTikTok Episode timeline IntroThe relationship between climate breakdown, economic inequality, and misogyny (03:18-05:13)The gendered impacts of climate change (05:13-10:00)Men in the driving seat of global heating (10:00-11:56)Rising heat and violence against women (11:56-14:08)‘Strongmen’ rolling back women’s rights and environmental action (14:08-17:32)Loss of faith in democratic institutions (17:32-22:07)The role of ‘tech’ companies and the ‘broligarchy’ (22:07-26:56)How men can help to confront these harms as allies (26:56-31:25)BreakBuilding alliances in the face of divisions among feminists (31:35-35:14)Learning from Rojava (35:14-39:55)Natasha’s experience of founding Women for Refugee Women (39:55-44:15)Centring care and connection for social change (44:15-46:12)Natasha’s activist journey and her move into environmentalism (46:12-49:35)Avoiding replicating patriarchal dynamics within social movements (49:35-55:03)Conclusion (55:03-01:04:29) More info ‘Woman of the Hour’ film‘Human rights violated by Swiss inaction on climate, ECHR rules in landmark case’ (Guardian)‘The Future Starts with Us’ by Gordon Brown‘Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism’ book‘End Times Fascism’ by Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor‘‘Woman, life, freedom’: The Syrian feminists who forged a new world in a land of war’ (Guardian, by Natasha)‘The revolutionary women of Rojava are in grave danger. That has consequences for us all’ (Guardian, by Natasha)'Nearly all women arriving on small boats have been raped, says Shabana Mahmood' (Guardian)Peter Kropotkin Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury. Please note that the transcript is a rough estimation and is likely to contain errors. Please do not reproduce without permission.

‘Femicide’ is broadly defined as the killing of women and girls due to their gender. So how do men who have perpetrated this fatal violence construct narrative histories to explain, justify, or process their actions? What is the role of emotions – fear, helplessness, pain, and anger – in their narratives? How can this help us to move beyond simplistic, individualising societal understandings of men who commit homicide, and what are the tensions of listening to the stories they tell? To what extent is femicide a reflection not only of individual acts of extreme violence but also of deeply ingrained gender norms, patriarchal power, and cultural impunity? Based on extensive interview data with men convicted of intimate femicide across multiple countries in Latin America – which has seen particularly powerful feminist anti-femicide movements in recent years – in this episode Dr Martín Hernán Di Marco explores the intersection between violence perpetration and life-courses, masculinities, and social networks and systems. He addresses the limitations of medicalised approaches which explain lethal gender-based violence primarily through individual psychopathologies, mental health conditions, or personal substance abuse history. By examining the structural factors that contribute to femicide, as well as male-on-male homicide, he argues that it is possible to develop more effective interventions and alternative narratives that not only respond to violence, but also work to prevent it. Originally from Argentina, Martín is an Associate Professor at OsloMet University in Norway. He’s also a Managing Editor of NORMA: International Journal for Masculinity Studies. His book, entitled ‘Taking Lives: Narratives of Latin American Femicide Perpetrators’, was published in 2025 by Palgrave Macmillan.  Martín’s profile pageResearchGateLinkedIn If you need support: UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247USA National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1 800 799 7233Australian domestic and sexual violence counselling service - 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732No More Global Directory of domestic and sexual violence helplines and services Episode timeline: IntroWhat femicide means (02:00-04:37)Anti-femicide movements in Latin America (04:37-06:25)What led Martín to this research (06:25-08:12)His relationship with feminism (08:12-11:28)The role of narratives in making sense of men’s violence (11:28-14:34)Changing the public story about men who use violence (14:34-17:02)How perpetrators rationalise their actions (17:02-23:11)The role of emotions in violence (23:11-27:03)BreakWhat femicide and male-male homicide have to do with masculinity (27:15-35:51)The importance of place (35:51-37:34)The tensions involved in speaking to men who’ve used violence (37:34-41:58)Researching the role of wider social networks (41:58-43:21)Possibilities for desistance and behaviour change (43:21-48:36)The limitations of typologies and pathologising perpetrators (48:36-51:57)Attacks on women’s rights in Argentina under Javier Milei (51:57-57:20)Conclusion (57:26-01:04:47) More info: UNODC Femicide FrameworkNi una menos movementPrimary, secondary and tertiary preventionProf Dabney EvansProf Lois PresserHannah ArendtFemicide in Ciudad JuárezRita SegatoTwelve-Step ProgramJavier Milei - ArgentinaGabriel Boric - ChileDr Gwen Adshead‘The Devil You Know’ bookReith Lectures 2024 – ‘Four Questions about Violence’Volunteering Matters (formerly Community Service Volunteers)CSV Volunteering - The Borstals ProgrammeA bestselling true crime author, and the crimes he’s accused of – Guardian podcast Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury. Please note that the transcript is a rough estimation and is likely to contain errors. Please do not reproduce without permission.

How is policy towards men and boys developing in the UK, at a time when masculinity is on the agenda more than ever? What is the approach of the governing Labour Party, and what more could they do? And how can we make sure the voices and experiences of women and girls are not sidelined in the process? What is the gendered culture of the UK Parliament like today? And how can men in politics model a different kind of masculinity? Following the huge political upheaval in the UK recently with the appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister, in this episode we talk to Alistair Strathern MP about some of the key policy issues currently under discussion in relation to masculinity and gender equality. These include extending paternity leave, increasing the numbers of male teachers, protecting young people from the manosphere, and men’s role in preventing violence against women.  Alistair is Labour MP for the constituency of Hitchin, just north of London. He co-chairs the Labour Group for Men and Boys, which is “a campaigning group of MPs pushing the Labour Government to speak to young men and build a better masculinity”. He is a former maths teacher and climate insurance lead at the Bank of England. He’s just been re-appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Treasury, acting as a two-way link between ministers and backbench MPs. Alistair’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alistairstrathernmp Episode timeline: IntroWhy the Labour Group on Men and Boys was set up (02:31-04:17)Labour’s approach to men and boys (04:17-05:34)What issues the group is focusing on (05:34-10:45)Improving parental leave for fathers (10:45-13:34)How to make sure women’s voices and experiences aren’t marginalised (13:34-16:09)Men’s role in challenging violence against women (16:09-18:15)The discourse on male role models (18:15-21:52)The gendered culture of Parliament (21:52-24:50)The role of men politicians in offering leadership (24:50-26:25)Where Alistair’s passion for masculinity issues comes from (26:25-28:48)Men’s responses to the nature and climate emergencies (28:48-31:25)Seizing the opportunities of the current moment (31:25-32:59)Count Binface and masculinity? (32:59-34:48)Conclusion: Policy considerations surrounding men and masculinities (34:48-49:26) More info:  The Spooky Men’s ChoraleBeyond EqualityFSB – Federation of Small Businesses‘Building Bridges’: Principles for work with men and boys to end violence against women and girlsEquimundoMencareWhite Ribbon UKProf Becky FrancisHarriet HarmanProf Steven Roberts Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury. Please note that the transcript is a rough estimation and is likely to contain errors. Please do not reproduce without permission.

Sorry for the technical issues with this episode - we have re-released it and hopefully it should work fine now! Boys are often portrayed as incapable of or uninterested in developing emotionally close relationships. But Dr Judy Y Chu’s pioneering research shows that from a young age boys show significant relational capacities, such as empathy for others, emotional sensitivity, articulacy and attentiveness. In this episode, she describes the process of boys’ development, highlighting how, as they age, they come under pressure to conform to patriarchal norms of ‘being a man’. Despite the privileges that patriarchy confers, when pressured to ‘prove’ their masculinity by eschewing anything deemed feminine, adolescent boys learn to deny and devalue their emotional range and relational qualities. By hindering the emotionally close relationships they need to thrive, boys’ gender socialisation can make them more susceptible to psychological and social harms, such as mental health issues, alcohol and drug misuse, and violence. Responding to these issues and wider cultural pressures such as the Manosphere, Judy emphasises that we can support boys’ healthy development by normalising their capacity for emotionally close relations, promoting positive ways of being, and helping them to recognise and resist restrictive masculine norms. Judy is an educator and researcher whose work examines boys’ gender socialisation, relationships, and development during early childhood and adolescence, drawing on her long-term collaboration with influential feminist psychologist Professor Carol Gilligan. She is the author of a book called ‘When Boys Become Boys’, and recently contributed a chapter on boys' social and emotional development to the ‘Oxford Handbook on Masculinities and Mental Health’. For over 20 years, Judy taught a course on Boys' Psychosocial Development at Stanford University. She has served in advisory roles for non-profit organizations including Movember, Equimundo, Roots of Empathy, Build Up Boys, The Foundation for Positive Masculinity, and the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on Supporting Boys in Schools. Judy’s websiteLinkedIn Episode timeline Intro (00:00-02:32)Boys’ relational capacities (02:32-04:32)How these start to be concealed (04:32-07:49)How hiding their emotional selves can impact boys and men (07:49-11:00)The consequences for their relationships (11:00-14:14)Possibilities for reconnection with these emotional capabilities (14:14-17:28)What adults can do to help boys resist restrictive masculine norms (17:28-21:47)Break (21:47-21:59)Judy’s methodological approach (21:59-27:42)Examples of boys’ resistance which have stayed with Judy (27:42-34:50)How the suppression of boys’ relationality can damage their self-esteem (34:50-39:57)What got Judy interested in feminist research with boys (39:57-47:24)How it affects her as a parent (47:24-51:46)How to respond to young men being drawn into the Manosphere (51:46-58:11)Conclusion (58:11-01:07:52) More info Carol GilliganStuart Miller – Men and FriendshipTerry RealMichael Resnick et al. – Protecting adolescents from harmJoseph Pleck – The Myth of MasculinityErving GoffmanFred RogersWon't You Be My Neighbor documentaryA Beautiful Day in the NeighbourhoodMarc Brackett – Permission to FeelNeil Postman – Amusing Ourselves to DeathShaun Candaran, Australian Childhood FoundationFrosh, Phoenix and Pattman – 'Young Masculinities' Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury. Please note that the transcript is a rough estimation and is likely to contain errors. Please do not reproduce it without permission.

Can poetry change the way people see the world? Can it help men to deal with and open up about their own vulnerabilities – and help to shift ideas about manhood? We talk to 21-year-old spoken word poet Sam Browne about how it has had exactly these impacts on him, and how he is now using poetry to express his deepest feelings and struggles – and to push back against anti-feminist forces such as the manosphere. In the process, Sam’s art highlights alternative ways of being for young men centred on love, care, and connection – whilst giving voice to the pain of trying to fit into a patriarchal society in which issues such as mental health continue to be bottled up. Sam reads out four of his moving poems, and we discuss the ideas behind them and how they connect to contemporary pressures of masculinity. Sam shares his own journey into poetry via comedy, from being an active participant in ‘lad culture’ to finding himself through the arts, and learning about then starting to speak out about gender-based violence thanks to the women around him. He articulates the liberation of ridding oneself of the shackles of gender norms, finding what we are passionate about, and not being afraid to show that we care – and the power of the arts to help us do that. Sam is from Southend, Essex in the UK, and his performances have developed an online following of 100,000+ and tens of millions of views. He has won awards for his activism as well as numerous poetry slams, and recently featured in the BBC documentary ‘Eastenders Investigates: The Manosphere’. He now performs at conferences, summits, in schools and at some of the biggest poetry nights in the world. Sam’s website (including tour info)InstagramLinkedInTikTok Timeline: Intro (00:00-02:40)Poem: Hinge and Harry Kane (02:40-04:33)Navigating contemporary dating pressures (04:33-09:29)Sam’s journey into poetry (09:29-15:04)The relationship between poetry and masculinity (15:04-20:49)Unravelling internalised misogyny (20:49-29:22)Poem: Like a Man (29:22-30:39)The intergenerational transmission of manhood (30:39-36:31)The ‘therapeutic self-destruction’ men engage in (36:31-40:06)Break (40:06-40:16)Poem: Ben’s purpose (40:16-41:17)The transformative power of relationships (41:17-49:40)Advice for other young men (49:40-52:59)Poem: Flowers (52:59-54:24)Conclusion (54:24-01:04:14) More info: It’s Never Over, Jeff BuckleyCharles BukowskiMumble rapBalletBoyzBilly ElliotJoelle Taylor Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury. Please note that the transcript is a rough estimation and is likely to contain errors - please do not reproduce it without permission.

What are militarised masculinities, and how are they influencing the many current conflicts around the world, including the US and Israel’s war against Iran? What are the main drivers of men’s involvement in armed conflict? And what does it mean to mobilise men for feminist peace? In this episode Dean Peacock reflects on the issues that underpin structural and interpersonal violence in our multi-polar world. Whilst it is important to focus on patriarchal norms and pressures around masculinities, he argues that other factors – such as economic interests, the arms industry, resource extraction, land dispossession, state repression, corruption, colonialism, inequality and poverty – are also critical and need to be addressed in the pursuit of peace-building. Drawing on his work and that of colleagues, particularly at WILPF (the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom), he examines how these forces contribute to conflict in countries across the Middle East, Ukraine and parts of Africa, and what needs to be done in response. As Commissioner on the Lancet Commission on Gun Violence and Health, and co-leader of the newly launched Global Coalition for WHO Action on Firearm Violence, Dean also unpicks the ways in which firearms and gun violence link to men and masculinities, including through marketing practices and the video games industry. He identifies too the significance of alcohol abuse and alcohol marketing in fuelling interpersonal violence, in South Africa and many other countries. We conclude by talking about Dean’s personal journey through this work, from his early involvement in activism for peace and equality through campaigning against apartheid in the 1980s, to some of the early profeminist campaigns and movements engaging with men about violence prevention and gender equality in the US, South Africa, and internationally. Based in Cape Town and Los Angeles, Dean has worked for over three decades to advance gender equality, violence prevention, and health equity. Alongside his current roles, he was Director of the WILPF’s ‘Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace’ initiative. He is the co-founder and former Executive Director of Sonke Gender Justice, a leading international NGO based in South Africa, and co-founder and former Global Co-Chair of the MenEngage Alliance. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town’s School of Public Health, a Visiting Fellow at the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Gender Centre, and an Affiliated Scholar at the University of San Diego’s Kroc School of Peace Studies. His writing has been published widely in books, academic journals, and global media outlets. Read Dean’s publicationsFollow him on LinkedIn Episode timeline: The importance of a decolonial approach (02:52-05:27)Making sense of the surge in war and militarism (05:27-12:56)The role of militarised masculinities in conflicts such as the war on Iran (12:56-17:12)The drivers of men’s involvement in armed conflicts (17:12-27:46)How work with men can address structural forces (27:46-37:30)BreakAddressing the firearms industry and its exploitation of gender norms (37:40-47:40)Dean’s personal journey through this work (47:40-54:48)Should ‘transforming masculinities’ be our end goal? (54:48-59:10)Conclusion (59:16-01:07:19) More info: ‘Gender Equality and Men: Lessons from Practice’, edited by SandyThe Khoisan peopleMobilising Men for Feminist Peace podcast‘Evolving Alliances: Men and Women – Access to Land, Gender Relations and Conflict in Anglophone Cameroon’, by Lotsmart FonjongPete Muller PhotographyACOOC, Colombia‘A more generous embrace: Why addressing the needs of adolescent boys and men is essential to an effective humanitarian response in Cameroon’s North West and South West’, by Delphine BrunDr David Duriesmith – researcher on militarised masculinitiesWhat Works to Prevent Violence Against WomenDiepsloot, Johannesburg‘Rethinking Primary Prevention’, by Jess Hill and Prof Michael SalterProf Mark Bellis – researcher on the commercial determinants of violenceDr Roger StahlWHO Respect FrameworkWHO Inspire FrameworkDr Jackson KatzDr Finn MackayRay Acheson‘Against Masculinity’, by Nathan RobinsonBerta Cáceres‘If….’, by Lindsay Anderson Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury. Please note that the transcript is a rough estimation and is likely to contain errors - please do not reproduce it without permission.

The need to engage with men and boys about issues such as consent, healthy relationships, and preventing violence and abuse is more urgent than ever at a time when world leaders such as Donald Trump and spaces like the Manosphere are projecting dominating, destructive images of masculinity around the world. This certainly applies in Canada, where the spread of far-right politics next-door in the US is having a significant impact – and where Prime Minister Mark Carney is arguably demonstrating a different kind of leadership. Our guest, Landon Kenney, is someone who is working to show that men and boys don’t have to be angry, tough and violent – and that they can work together with women, girls and gender diverse people to create a more equitable and peaceful society. He coordinates the Male Allies Program for the Sexual Assault Support Centre of the Waterloo Region in Ontario (SASC), Canada. In this episode, Landon tells us about the work that SASC and the Male Allies Program have been doing since 2008 to prevent sexual and gender-based violence with men, boys, and organisations such as Hockey Canada and the Ontario Hockey League. We discuss the importance of changing macho sporting cultures, highlighted by the sexual assault scandal in Canadian ice hockey in recent years. We also talk about hopeful shifts in cultural discourses about masculine norms, exemplified in the recent hugely popular Canadian TV series ‘Heated Rivalry’. We explore how masculinity is depicted in this powerful show, and the potential it has to help men and boys open up about intimacy, vulnerability, and sexuality. Find out more: Sexual Assault Support Centre of the Waterloo RegionSASC’s Public Education ResourcesThe Male Allies ProgramLandon Kenney We also discuss a new practical guide produced by the UK End Violence Against Women Coalition and others to help talk about the ways in which violence against women and girls is being weaponised for anti-immigration narratives: https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/not-in-our-name-womens-rights-groups-reclaim-the-narrative-on-vawg/ Episode timeline: IntroWhat the Male Allies Program involves (02:41-04:29)How the program was initiated by the Sexual Assault Support Centre (04:29-07:48)Landon’s own journey into this work (07:48-11:00)Being accountable to women (11:00-17:36)The impacts violence prevention work has on men and boys (17:36-21:38)How Trump has affected Canadian society and Mark Carney's response (21:38-29:17)BreakWorking to create change in ice hockey and sport (29:26-33:07)Addressing hypermasculine sports cultures (33:07-36:46)The Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal (36:46-40:40)Heated Rivalry and its portrayal of masculinity (40:40-47:09)The impact of the show on Canadian society (47:09-50:53)Professional male athletes coming out as gay (50:53-53:34)The future for profeminist work in Canada (53:34-55:42)Conclusion (55:49-01:02:36) More info: Gisèle Pelicot – ‘A Hymn to Life’Manon Garcia – ‘Living with Men’bell hooks – ‘The Will to Change’Steven Roberts – ‘Why straight men’s embrace of a queer sports romance TV show matters right now’Jacob TierneyCanada ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury. Please note that the transcript is a rough estimation and is likely to contain errors - please do not reproduce it without permission.

Many men are now engaging in a variety of behaviours traditionally associated with femininity – such as trying to make their bodies look good, worrying about their fertility, and opening up about their emotions. But what is driving these shifts? And to what extent do such practices challenge conventional norms of masculinity, or reinforce them? In this episode, Prof Brendan Gough discusses his wide-ranging research on contemporary constructions of masculinity.  We explore the pressures patriarchal societies place on men: to be fit and healthy, lean and muscular, sexually virile, and self-reliant, and how these combine with neoliberal expectations that disciplining our bodies and having good wellbeing is an individual responsibility. We also discuss the ways in which these norms are being subtly challenged and changed, for example through efforts to encourage men to be open and honest about their feelings and struggles such as depression, and provide support to one other, including in online communities. Brendan reflects on what can help to steer this change in healthy directions – and how spaces such as the Manosphere may be exacerbating men’s insecurities about their bodies. He also considers the strengths and weaknesses of the UK government’s new men’s health strategy and health promotion efforts aimed at men. Brendan is a critical social psychologist and qualitative researcher based at Leeds Beckett University in the UK. Over several decades, he has published a wealth of research on men and masculinities, particularly in relation to health, lifestyle, and wellbeing. University profile pageLinkedIn‘Contemporary Masculinities: Embodiment, Emotion and Wellbeing’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018)‘(In)Fertile Male Bodies: Masculinities and Lifestyle Management in Neoliberal Times’ (with Dr Esmée Hanna, Emerald, 2022) Episode timeline IntroWhat sparked Brendan’s interest in masculinity (02:08-05:40)The positives as well as harms of online spaces (05:40-09:36)Men’s complex current relationship with gender equality (09:36-13:44)‘Healthism’ and its connections to masculinity (13:44-15:40)The use of masculine norms in health promotion (15:40-19:55)The UK govt’s men’s healthy strategy (19:55-24:29)BreakMen’s struggles with body image (24:41-28:53)How attention towards appearance is rationalised in masculine terms (28:53-32:00)‘Metrosexuality’ and grooming practices (32:00-34:01)Pressures to have a lean and muscular body (34:01-36:18)The impact of infertility on men (36:18-41:39)Men’s bodies as machines (41:39-42:34)What helps men share their experiences of depression (42:34-45:58)The use of ‘masculine capital’ to legitimise vulnerability (45:58-47:57)The value of peer support (47:57-49:45)The influence of the manosphere (49:45-51:40)Conclusion (52:12-01:00:30) More info Margaret Wetherell and Nigel EdleyAndy’s Man ClubHybrid masculinityDr Lucy EldredMen’s Sheds UKUK Govt's Men’s Health Strategy for EnglandProf Paul GaldasLooksmaxxingDr Matthew Hall – ‘Metrosexual masculinities’Teddy BoysNew RomanticsDandiesPierre Bourdieu

Since 2021, Now and Men has been initiating conversations about changing masculinities and challenging norms. New episodes drop every month - listen wherever you get your podcasts, and share with anyone interested in men's role in gender equality! Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury.

Fathers on low-incomes and young fathers are often portrayed in media and politics as ‘feckless’ and ‘failing’. Father absence is blamed for a wide range of social problems, including crime, antisocial behaviour, and poor educational outcomes. These discourses have intensified in the UK in recent months with renewed assertions about a ‘crisis of masculinity’. However, Professor Anna Tarrant’s research over many years demonstrates that most fathers, including those who are young or experiencing poverty, very much want to care for their children. Yet they face numerous structural obstacles in doing so, such as a lack of secure jobs, suitable housing, or welfare support, and being sidelined by services who may see them as inherently ‘risky’. Young fathers in particular (as with young mothers) are frequently presented as a ‘social problem’.  Anna’s research challenges these unhelpful stereotypes, shining a light on the ways in which many young men and working-class fathers (as well as grandfathers, uncles, brothers, and other family members) are engaging in love and caregiving, with transformative impacts on them, their children, and their partners. She discusses what changes need to happen for policies and services to become more ‘father-inclusive’ without undermining vital support for mothers, and why this is good for gender equality and for society as a whole.  Anna Tarrant is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Lincoln (UK), a UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) Future Leaders Fellow, and Director of the Centre for Innovation in Fatherhood and Family Research. She is currently the Director of the UKRI-funded Future Leaders Fellowship study, 'Following Young Fathers Further'. She has written three books:  The Dynamics of Young Fatherhood (with Bren Neale, Policy Press, 2024)Men, Families and Poverty (with Kahryn Hughes, Palgrave Macmillan, 2023)Fathering and Poverty: Uncovering Men's Family Participation in Low Income Families (Policy Press, 2021)Follow Anna on LinkedInAnna is also the Director of the Father-Inclusion Hub She is also co-editor, with Linzi Ladlow and Laura Way, of the book ‘Men and Welfare’ (Routledge, 2022), in which Sandy and Stephen have a chapter on ‘Men, work, and care in the UK in the wake of COVID-19’. Episode timeline IntroNotions of a ‘crisis of masculinity’ due to fatherlessness (02:59-08:17)Obstacles low-income fathers face (08:17-11:12)Lack of housing (11:12-13:21)Why young fathers are constructed as a ‘social problem’ (13:21-17:27)Barriers to services engaging with fathers (17:27-22:12)Break How gender norms influence societal perceptions of fathers (22:22-25:10)Working with fathers who have been abusive (25:10-28:50)What a father-inclusive approach looks like (28:50-34:19)Policy change to support active fatherhood (34:19-41:38)Anna’s early research on grandfathers (41:38-48:28)The personal dynamics of research (48:28-51:22)Conclusion (51:22-59:22) More info Prof Laura King’s research on the social history of fatherhood in the UKFor Baby’s SakeCaring DadsYoung Dads’ CollectiveNorth East Young Dads and LadsDigiDadInternational Network on Leave Policies & Research‘The Vegetarian’ by Han Kang Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury.

How have young feminists challenged the patriarchal culture of South Korea in recent times? How are young men reacting to the upsurge in support for feminist ideas and activism? What is the background to the dramatic conflict around gender and masculinity in the country the last few years, and how might it be resolved? Please note: This episode includes discussion about sexual violence. On 3rd December 2024, a huge political upheaval took place which drew global attention when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. But this only lasted six hours as opposition lawmakers managed to get past the police and military, gain entry to the Assembly, and pass a resolution to lift it. Young women in the so-called “cheering light brigade” and the “kisses squad” played a key part in the pro-democracy movement that grew to impeach the President, staying out in public squares in freezing temperatures to demonstrate.  These events followed a long-standing backlash against gender equality in South Korea, and the gains for women’s rights made since the 1980s. Three years of Yoon’s Presidency led to a dramatic roll-back on hard-won gender equality policies. He pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, withdrew plans for a non-consensual sex law, undermined safe abortion service, and removed funding for sexuality and human rights education. These regressive moves reflect the rise of Manosphere communities over the past decade, fuelling men’s grievances against feminism and legitimising men’s violence against women in South Korea. Whilst the country leads the world in internet connectivity and hi-tech innovation, anti-feminist online spaces have become breeding grounds for various forms of digital crime, such as spy cameras in public toilets and deepfake pornography. So how have feminists been responding to this, how can solidarity be built among men and women amidst these divisions, and what lessons does this provide for gender equality advocates around the world? Our guest is Myoung Ryoon Kim (better known as Goldie). She’s an educator in the prevention of gender-based violence and an activist for gender equality. A graduate of Kyung-Hee University, Goldie has held numerous positions in South Korean NGOs working on gender issues over the past 30 years. In 2025, she became the Director of GOMA (Gender Justice Organisation for More Action) Korea, and is one of the founders and current co-coordinator of K-MEN (the newly-formed Korean MenEngage Network). She talks honestly about her personal experience of gender violence, how she became involved in this struggle, and how she maintains her motivation to continue through such difficult times. Episode timeline IntroThe social position of women in South Korea today (02:49-06:14)Femicide and the Gangnam Station Exit 10 Murder Case (06:14-09:58)‘Soranet’ and men’s violence against women online (09:58-15:29)The rise of the Manosphere and tech-facilitated abuse in South Korea (15:29-20:47)The ‘Feminist Reboot’ that has emerged in response (20:47-25:26)BreakReversals in gender equality under President Suk Yeol Yoon (25:35-28:25)Yoon’s masculinist attempt to impose martial law (28:25-31:04)The pro-democracy movement led by young women (31:04-35:33)Support for right-wing politicians among some young men (35:33-38:19)The relationship with North Korea, militarism and conscription of young men (38:19-43:25)Engaging men in gender equality in South Korea (43:25-47:00)What led Goldie to this work and what keeps her going (47:00-51:50)Conclusion (52:46-59:52) More info 'A year after South Korea’s martial law crisis, the president urges unity, but the wounds are still raw''‘Men don’t know why they became unhappy’: the toxic gender war dividing South Korea'Mare of EasttownImagine ToolkitJens Van Tricht – ‘Men Need Feminism’‘Kim Ji-young, Born 1982’ by Cho Nam-Joo‘The Vegetarian’ by Han Kang Music, 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury.

Is masculinity ‘under attack’, and are boys increasingly ‘lost’? How valid are concerns about boys’ and young men’s achievement in education? What is the impact on them – and girls and young women – of the rise of the Manosphere and right-wing populism? In this episode, Prof Steven Roberts argues that the picture is much more complicated than is often presented, with, for instance, mixed effects on different racial and class groups. He challenges the pervasive narrative that tells young men gender equality threatens their positions and that traditional gender norms must be reasserted, arguing that this backward-looking approach feeds a sense of ‘manufactured outrage’ and ‘instructed victimhood’ among men and boys.  Instead, he stresses the need for an alternative discourse which embraces gender equality, builds on the under-recognised positive changes taking place in (working-class) masculinity, and provides a more hopeful vision. He suggests, for instance, that many young working-class men find ways to adapt to the shifting labour market, working in sectors which are not seen as traditionally masculine such as retail and care, and forging more complex masculine identities as a result.  Drawing on his research with Dr Stephanie Wescott in schools, Steven highlights the impact of sexist and misogynistic behaviour among young men influenced by the Manosphere and the complicity and responsibility of schools, and what they should do to promote gender-based violence prevention and early intervention work and develop wider school culture, norms, and leadership.  Steven also talks movingly about the sustained violence and controlling behaviour he experienced from men when growing up, the impact on his work and life, and his remarkable transition to being an academic. He draws attention to the wider implications, including, for example, how the significance and prevalence of men’s violence is often downplayed, and the importance of breaking men’s silence on this issue.   Steven is a Professor of Sociology in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He has published numerous journal articles, (co-)authored three books, and edited six more about changes and continuities in boys and men's masculinity practices, and inequalities in young people’s transitions to adulthood. Steven makes regular contributions to the media and other forms of public discussion. He writes frequently, for example, for the ABC, the Conversation and Women’s Agenda, and has appeared in a raft of media outlets in print, TV and radio nationally and internationally. Steven’s profileLinkedIn Episode timeline IntroThe play Inter Alia (00:41-03:35)What drew Steven to working on masculinity (03:35-05:59)What made Steven share his experiences of men’s violence (05:59-08:43)Encouraging other men to share their stories (08:43-10:37)Sexism and misogyny in schools today (10:37-15:52)Where boys are learning this behaviour from (15:52-20:17)Manufactured outrage around young men being ‘under attack’ (20:17-23:34)The masculinist politics of ‘protecting the nation’ (23:34-28:06)The relationship between class, race, and the rise of the far-right (28:06-32:54)Changing the discourse around boys and young men (32:54-36:36)BreakThe limitations of narratives about boys’ performance at school (36:46-41:22)Wellbeing struggles among both girls and boys (41:22-43:51)The impact of domestic abuse at home on school (43:51-49:49)How personal transitions shape research interests (49:49-54:24)Working-class communities driving change and providing seeds of hope (54:24-01:00:18)Conclusion (01:00:58-01:09:24) Futher reading Steven’s review of ‘Inter Alia’‘A very personal call to action for non-violent men to denounce men’s violence’‘How the discourse on boys’ alienation is fuelled by anti-feminist agendas’‘Research exposes alarming impact of 'manfluencer' culture on Australian schools’‘The ‘March for Australia’ and the masculine politics of protection’‘‘No one knew what was happening’: New research shows how domestic violence harms young people’s schooling’‘Young Working-Class Men in Transition’ (Routledge, 2018)Raymond Williamsbell hooksAmanda Keddie and Michael Flood’s research on young men online'No room for battle of the sexes: Why boys AND girls matter' (Education Policy Institute)

What role does love have to play in transforming men and masculinities? Why is it that so many men and boys struggle to give and receive love, yet feel great hunger for it? How should we understand the complex relationship between masculinity, love, and violence – why do men enact violence towards the people we claim to love? Why do dominant notions of masculinity often conflict with love and vulnerability? We discuss these issues with Kopano Ratele, Professor of Psychology at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, drawing on his recent book ‘Why Men Hurt Women and Other Reflections on Love, Violence and Masculinity’, published in 2022 by Wits University Press. Kopano puts forward honest personal reflections about his own experiences with love as a partner, father, psychologist and researcher in the field of men and masculinities. The second part of the episode explores Kopano’s vital work on critical and cultural African psychology, and the need to apply a decolonial lens to men and masculinities work. Decolonisation involves not only the process of undoing colonial rule, but also deeper shifts away from Western systems and structures of knowledge and power – including in our own psyches. Applying this approach to gender relations, Kopano highlights how a vibrant, Global South range of scholarship on men and masculinities now exists, which asks questions of dominant Western-centric frameworks. For example, he draws attention to the complex position of men of colour in Africa, who may simultaneously have some degree of male privilege, whilst also having been marginalised by colonisation. Our discussion concludes with his thoughts on the ‘softer’ masculinity displayed by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, and what impact his condemnation of violence against women and related policy initiatives are having on the very high levels of violence in the country.  Kopano has published an extensive body of work focusing on the core themes of this episode. Alongside authoring multiple books, chapters, and journal articles, he has served as a member of the Ministerial Committee on Transformation in South African Universities, convener of the National Research Foundation’s Specialist Committee for Psychology Rating Panel, president of the Psychological Society of South Africa, and chairperson of Sonke Gender Justice. Episode timeline IntroWhy Kopano is interested in questions of love (02:30-04:39)Why so many men struggle to give and receive love (04:39-08:54)The relationship between (an absence of) love and men’s violence (08:54-13:37)Kopano’s own personal struggles with love (13:37-17:42)Opening oneself up to vulnerability (17:42-20:27)Helping men to embrace a loving masculinity (20:27-26:03)How Kopano became involved in profeminism (26:03-31:42)BreakWhy men and masculinity studies needs to be decolonised (31:53-41:56)The complexities of masculinity, race and power in Africa (41:56-48:17)Cyril Ramaphosa’s Oval Office exchange with Donald Trump (48:17-49:59)Ramaphosa’s vocal condemnation of violence against women (49:59-54:06)Pushing for deeper social change in South Africa post-Apartheid (54:06-56:01)Conclusion (56:32-01:04:45) Music, 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury.

How do women and men suffer in different ways in wartime? How are distorted ideas about masculinity and femininity manipulated to promote and justify wars and recruit men to fight? What can be done to counter a return to patriarchal societies post-conflict? How are feminists responding to increasing militarisation in these dark times?  Over many years, Cynthia Enloe has drawn on women’s first-hand experiences of war to show how patriarchy and militarism have become embedded in institutions and personal lives. Her analysis highlights how wartime shapes the gendered politics of issues such as marriage, family, work, childcare, food, income, prostitution, domestic violence and rape. She criticises the notion of a hierarchy of wartime suffering between women and men and draws attention to how men are coerced into being soldiers, framed as protectors of women, conscripted into militaries, and suffer death, injury and trauma in large numbers from direct wartime violence. She also shows how women’s emotional and physical labour is exploited by governments to support war-waging policies, and how different groups of women and men have tried to resist these efforts.  In this episode, Cynthia reflects on these issues in particular in relation to the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the underlying patriarchal ideas and processes that perpetuate the conflict. Echoing a perceptive and long-standing theme in her work, she brings a feminist curiosity to what she sees, and encourages observers to remain attentive to the full range of questions that should be asked, rather than narrowing focus and leaping to easy assumptions.   Cynthia Enloe is an activist, researcher and teacher, and still engaged - in her words - in the lifetime process of ‘becoming a feminist’. She is Research Professor at Clark University in Massachusetts and internationally renowned for her work on the interactions of feminism, women, militarised culture, war, politics, and globalised economics in countries such as Japan, Iraq, the US, Britain, the Philippines, Canada, Chile, and Turkey. She’s written 15 ground-breaking books, including her latest Twelve Feminist Lessons of War, 2023 (Footnote Press/University of California Press), for which she reads the audiobook. Among many accolades, in 2018 she was selected to be named on the Gender Justice Legacy Wall at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Cynthia’s profile‘Twelve Feminist Lessons of War’ (UK, US, Australia) Episode timeline IntroLearning from Ukrainian feminists (01:38-10:18)The multiple roles women are expected to play during war (10:18-15:52)How even insurgent movements can foster post-war patriarchy (15:52-16:57)The insidiousness of ‘returning to normal’ (16:57-17:32)The return of the Taliban and the MAGA movement (17:32-19:25)Why women’s wars are not men’s wars (19:25-28:43)How masculinity and femininity are used to justify war (28:43-36:53)BreakPutin’s strategies to recruit Russian men to fight (37:05-43:15)Nurturing feminist curiosity (43:15-48:45)The surge in militarisation across the world (48:45-56:21)Why we need to look beyond the big leaders (56:21-01:02:33)How Cynthia became the feminist she is today (01:02:33-01:05:45)What men can do to support struggles against militarism (01:05:45-01:06:33)Conclusion (01:06:42) More info Women’s Perspectives in LvivMarta ChumaloNimo's War, Emma's War: Making Feminist Sense of the Iraq War, by CynthiaPutin’s payments to Russian soldiers, New York TimesThe Big Push: Exposing and Challenging the Persistence of Patriarchy, by CynthiaSeriously! Investigating Crashes and Crises as If Women Mattered, by Cynthia Music 'Now is time' courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury.

How are artificial intelligence and other technologies exacerbating misogyny and undermining women’s rights and safety? What are the emerging forms of violence against women and girls being facilitated by AI, such as deepfakes and nudify apps? What is driving so many men to view and create such material, and how is it shaping their sexual attitudes and behaviours? What actions are needed to address these harms, and by whom? For many years, Prof Clare McGlynn has been at the forefront of efforts to tackle the devastating impacts of online violence against women and to establish stronger forms of regulation. Central to her work on sexual violence are the perspectives of victims and survivors, particularly their understandings of what justice means to them.  In this episode, we explore her approach to these issues and some of the challenges involved, including the masculinist dynamics of the highly profitable tech and porn companies, and obstacles in attempting to regulate the transformation of these industries in recent years.   Clare also talks about recent aspects of her influential advocacy work.  For example, she provided legal expertise to the successful campaign to persuade the UK Government to adopt a law criminalising the creation and solicitation of sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’. We explore too her work to reduce the easy and growing availability, and adverse impacts, of extreme and abusive pornography (including ‘strangulation porn’ and ‘incest porn’). She outlines her involvement in the campaign to tackle the harms of strangulation in mainstream pornography.  We conclude by discussing with Clare what led her to focus increasingly on online and tech-facilitated harms in her work, and how her sense of responsibility and justice sustains her in continuing to research such distressing issues.  Clare is a Professor of Law at Durham University, with particular expertise in the legal regulation of pornography, sexual violence and online abuse, especially image-based sexual abuse (i.e. taking, creating, and sharing intimate images without consent). In 2020, she was appointed an Honorary KC (Kings Counsel) in recognition of her exceptional work within the legal profession. Clare’s website: https://www.claremcglynn.comDurham University profile: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/clare-mcglynn/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-mcglynn-32b898238/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claremcglynn_/ Episode timeline IntroductionHow AI is deepening gender inequality (02:34-04:21)Emerging AI-driven forms of violence against women (04:21-06:08)The masculinist dynamics of the tech industry (06:08-08:52)Why attempts to regulate Big Tech have been so lacklustre (08:52-11:31)The new UK law Clare helped to introduce criminalising ‘deepfake’ images (11:31-16:44)Why the criminal law can be a useful tool for feminist campaigners (16:44-19:34)Why debates about ‘carceral feminism’ should not be reduced to either/or (19:34-24:23)Victim-survivors’ wide-ranging perceptions of justice (24:23-26:27)BreakWhat is driving so many men to engage in image-based sexual abuse (26:35-29:56)Why the online world is not simply a reflection of wider society (29:56-31:35)The role of pornography and how it’s shifted over time, e.g. ‘incest porn’ (31:35-36:55)The personal impacts of doing this research (36:55-38:25)Is porn simply giving people what they want? (38:25-40:46)How porn influences our attitudes, behaviours, and relationships (40:46-44:11)The mainstreaming of strangulation in sex (44:11-48:04)Talking to young people (48:04-52:05)What sustains Clare to keep doing this work (52:05-54:24)Conclusion (55:15-01:02:27) More info New ‘engaging men’ briefing paper co-authored by Stephen: https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/new-how-to-engage-men-in-ending-vawg/‘The New Age of Sexism’ by Laura Bates: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/The-New-Age-of-Sexism/Laura-Bates/9781471190483End Violence Against Women Coalition: https://evaw.org.uk#NotYourPorn: https://notyourporn.comSally Rees, NASUWT union: https://news.sky.com/story/upskirted-teacher-says-women-being-targeted-by-misogynistic-attitudes-in-classroom-13351789Clare’s research on ‘kaleidoscopic justice’:https://doi.org/10.1177/0964663918761200And restorative justice: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6478.2012.00579.x‘Breathless’ campaign: https://www.breathlesscampaign.com‘No One Wants to See Your D*ck’, by Jess Davies: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/30/i-dont-date-at-all-now-one-womans-journey-into-the-darkest-corners-of-the-manosphere‘The Crimes of Digital Capitalism’, by Aitor Jiménez: https://nyupress.org/9781479821693/the-crimes-of-digital-capitalism/