Politics, Violence, Ageing: Reflections on a Life Working on Men and Masculinities - Prof Jeff Hearn

Professor Jeff Hearn has been engaging in academic, activist, and personal work on men, masculinities, and pro-feminism for over 45 years. So how does he reflect on what he has observed over the course of his career, and in contemporary debates? For instance, what are ‘political masculinities’ and how are they playing out in today’s turbulent political climate? Is it possible to categorise different legal and policy approaches to men and gender equality across Europe? What counts as ‘violence’ and how should we understand the links between different forms? How can memory work help to explain the relationship between masculinity and ageing? These are some of the concepts and issues we explore in this wide-ranging episode, based on Jeff’s rich body of writing and research since the 1970s. 

Jeff’s work is well known in the field of critical studies on men and masculinities. He has also worked extensively on organisations, management and work, with special emphasis on gender, sexuality, diversity and intersectionality; and men’s violence to women and children. His wider interests include globalisation and transnationalisations, social theory, and cultural studies. He spent his early career at Bradford University in the UK, rising to became head of department. Since then, he has held various posts internationally, including: Research Professor in Social Sciences, Manchester University, UK; Professor of Gender Studies, Linköping University, Sweden; and currently Professor Emeritus, Management and Organisation, Hanken School of Economics, Finland; Senior Professor, Human Geography, Örebro University, Sweden; and Professor of Sociology, University of Huddersfield, UK. He was also a founder member of ‘Profeministimiehet’, Finland.

Jeff’s work:

• https://www.hanken.fi/sv/person/jeff-hearn
• https://www.oru.se/english/employee/jeff_hearn
• https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/persons/jeff-hearn

Episode timeline:

• Introduction (00:00-03:32)
• The ‘masculinity contest’ between Biden and Trump (03:32-11:50)
• ‘Political masculinities’ and recent elections across Europe (11:50-19:38)
• Categorising policy approaches to gender equality and men in Europe (19:38-24:51)
• ‘Violence regimes’ and interconnections between men’s violences (24:51-30:02)
• Break (30:02-30:08)
• Reflecting on Jeff’s career and the history of critical studies on men and masculinities (30:08-40:11)
• Focusing on men’s practices and ‘the hegemony of men’ (40:11-44:13)
• The Older Men’s Memory Work Group (44:13-50:43)
• Ageing and masculinity (50:43-52:38)
• Conclusion (Tap Social in Oxford; 'Strong' vs collective leadership; Older men and power; Violence against women and the 'Nordic paradox'; Ecological violence; Coercive control) (52:38-59:58)

More info:

• ‘Trump v Biden: A duel of contrasting masculinities’ (2020) https://theconversation.com/trump-v-biden-a-duel-of-contrasting-masculinities-148300
• ‘Evaluating the concept of political masculinity/ies: A simple idea or a case of too many ideas?’ (2024): https://doi.org/10.1332/25151088Y2023D000000021
• ‘European Perspectives on Men and Masculinities: National and Transnational Approaches’ (2006): https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230626447
• ‘Violence regimes: A useful concept for social politics, social analysis, and social theory’ (2022) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11186-022-09474-4
• ‘The Violences of Men’ (1998): https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446279069
• ‘From Hegemonic Masculinity to the Hegemony of Men’ (2004): https://doi.org/10.1177/1464700104040813
• ‘Men’s Stories for a Change: Ageing Men Remember’ (2016): https://doi.org/10.18848/978-1-61229-860-3/CGP
• ‘Routledge Handbook on Men, Masculinities and Organizations’ (2023): https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003193579
• James Messerschmidt: https://usm.maine.edu/directories/people/james-w-messerschmidt/
• Niels Spierlings: https://www.ru.nl/en/people/spierings-c  
• Raewyn Connell – ‘Masculinities’: http://www.raewynconnell.net/p/masculinities_20.html
• Kopano Ratele: https://www0.sun.ac.za/psychology/staff/academic-staff/prof-kopano-ratele/
• ’Men’s Stories for a Change: Ageing Men Remember’ (2016): https://doi.org/10.18848/978-1-61229-860-3/CGP
• Frigga Haug: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigga_Haug
• Collective Memory-Work: http://collectivememorywork.net
• Tap Social: https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/14/oxford-brewery-helps-cut-reoffending-rates-by-training-jail-leavers-to-make-ale
• ‘The Myth of the Strong Leader’ (2014): https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-myth-of-the-strong-leader-9781448156986