Masculinity has become a battle ground. From the gender pay gap, to domestic violence and rape, the idea of what it means to be a man has been heavily scrutinised in recent times. 

Meanwhile the gender wars – fuelled by mainstream conservatives, technology and social media – has shifted society’s ideas in a dangerous direction. Has the recent focus on women had a negative effect on masculinity? Are men and boy’s feelings of shame and exclusion contributing to a crisis? And is masculinity necessarily toxic? 

Tarang Chawla is an award-winning keynote speaker, writer, advocate and recovering lawyer. He serves as Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission where he works to bring the voices and lived experiences of culturally diverse people to policymakers. He is also the co-founder of Not One More Niki, a grassroots non-profit working to end men’s violence against women.

Professor Michael Flood is an internationally recognised researcher on men, masculinities, and gender, violence against women, and violence prevention. 

Anna Krien is an author and regular contributor to The Monthly magazine and The Saturday Paper. 

Chaired by anthropologist and the founder of Habitus, Monty Badami.