Now and Men

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 timelineIntroWhy 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 timelineIntroLearning 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 infoWomen’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 CynthiaMusic '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 timelineIntroductionHow 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 infoNew ‘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/

Society is obsessed with masculinity, and constantly discussing how it's 'in crisis'. But how helpful are these debates? Can masculinity be reshaped as 'positive' or 'healthy' - and should that be our focus? In a challenging new paper – 'Positive humanity, when? Is masculinity worth saving?' – Dr Finn Mackay argues that policy aimed at saving men and alleviating their suffering does not address men's humanity, but is erroneously focused on 'saving' masculinity. Instead, Finn believes we should aspire to be positive, healthy people and equal human beings, without needing to have our identities as men reinforced. Rather than recycling tired biological essentialism, Finn concludes "it is time for men and women to start acting like we really believe we are not separate spheres, but on the same planet, with the same needs for love and care, the same need to matter to our communities, the same need for life". Finn advocates for a radical feminist analysis, arguing that it offers positive solutions to the problems all of us face - including men and boys.The episode discusses Finn's 2021 book 'Female Masculinities and the Gender Wars: The Politics of Sex'. Based on research they conducted on lesbian and queer masculinities in the UK, they explore the challenges and obstacles facing those who do not fit into strict boxes of sex and gender. This is particularly topical given the recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer only to "biological women" and "biological sex". Decrying the widespread scapegoating and demonising of trans people, Finn argues they have become easy targets for regressive gender conservatism. Finn ends by talking movingly about their personal journey from growing up in rural Scotland, to living at women's peace camps outside military bases, and the impact that feminism – especially radical feminism – has had on their life.Finn is a senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of the West of England, and they have a long history of feminist research and activism. Prior to academia, Finn was involved in education and youth work on issues including domestic violence prevention and anti-bullying. In 2004, they founded the London Feminist Network, and revived the tradition of London Reclaim the Night. Their previous book 'Radical Feminism: Feminist Activism in Movement' (2015) set out a pioneering feminist manifesto analysing the reasons for women’s oppression and what feminist activism must do to counter it.Finn's personal website: https://www.drfinnmackay.co.ukUWE profile: https://people.uwe.ac.uk/Person/FinnMackayBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/finnfox.bsky.socialLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finn-mackay-87a593345/‘Positive humanity, when?’ paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2025.2502679‘Radical Feminism’ book: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137363589‘Female Masculinities’ book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/female-masculinities-and-the-gender-wars-9781350466623/Episode timelineIntro Current debates about masculinity (02:02-03:56)Is 'positive masculinity' the answer? (03:56-06:12)Why masculinity is crisis (06:12-08:59)Reinforcing gender dualisms through segregation (08:59-13:12)Boys starting school later (13:12-15:48)The allure of patriarchal norms in times of crisis (15:48-18:46)Why radical feminism offers hope to boys and men (18:46-22:45)What men can do to support radical feminism (22:45-25:40)BreakHow to define radical feminism and essentialism (25:56-33:21)Finn's research on lesbian and queer masculinities (33:21-37:09)Simultaneously identifying with and critiquing masculinity (37:09-41:57)The UK supreme court decision on 'biological women' (41:57-45:50)Trans panic and the gender equality backlash (45:50-49:49)Reconciling the divides over trans rights (49:49-55:55)Finn's personal feminist journey (55:55-01:02:20)Conclusion [Learning from radical feminism; How can men deal feminist divisions?; Patriarchy is the problem; Continuity and crisis; Men who supported the peace camps; Dismantling essentialism] (01:02:28-01:08:00)More infoJohn Stoltenberg: https://johnstoltenberg.medium.com/UK Dads' Strike: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/jun/11/dad-strikes-in-london-and-edinburgh-demand-better-paternity-leaveSusan Brownmiller obituary: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jun/03/susan-brownmiller-obituaryUK Supreme Court ruling: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/16/critics-of-trans-rights-win-uk-supreme-court-case-over-definition-of-woman'What does the UK Supreme Court’s gender ruling mean for trans men?': https://theconversation.com/what-does-the-uk-supreme-courts-gender-ruling-mean-for-trans-men-254868Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenham_Common_Women%27s_Peace_Camp'The origins and history of Reclaim the Night': https://mancunion.com/2022/03/20/the-origins-and-history-of-reclaim-the-night/

Why do men still benefit from higher pay, status, and power at work? What is the ideological and cultural underpinning that sustains the gendered division of labour? What are the harmful effects of workplace inequality on poverty, health, family life and women’s status? These are some of the key issues that Professor Cordelia Fine addresses in her witty and insightful new book ‘Patriarchy Inc.: What We Get Wrong About Gender Equality and Why Men Still Win at Work’, which is listed as one of the non-fiction books to read this year by the UK Financial Times. In our discussion, Cordelia draws on a wealth of evidence to explain how ‘Patriarchy Inc.’ operates, and how progress in dismantling unequal gender arrangements is stymied by two false visions: the ‘Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI)’ approach, and the ‘Different but Equal’ perspective. Instead, she argues for a set of commonsense reforms which would benefit everyone. These include reorientating societies and workplaces around the assumption that most workers will have caring responsibilities; setting aside definitions of job ‘fit’ and success that exclude women and other marginalised groups; and addressing how the gender system is embedded in childhood. We also explore some of the themes from her earlier book, Testosterone Rex, which won the Royal Society Science Book Prize. The book challenges the powerful myth that men and women have evolved fundamentally different natures, and that testosterone is responsible for ‘hard-wiring’ male brains to, for example, take risks, compete, and be violent.  We conclude by discussing her motivations and influences as a writer, and the role of humour in her work. Cordelia is Professor in the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne. She was awarded the prestigious 2018 Edinburgh Medal for her work challenging gender bias in science, and was recently named as a living legend by The Australian newspaper. Buy the book: https://atlantic-books.co.uk/book/patriarchy-inc/ (UK) https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/9781838953355 (Aus)Cordelia’s website: https://www.cordelia-fine.comHer University of Melbourne profile: https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/126041-cordelia-fineLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cordelia-fine-240773250/Episode timelineIntroWhy Cordelia wanted to write ‘Patriarchy Inc.’ (03:49-08:01)Why she takes issue with the ‘Different but Equal’ perspective (08:01-15:30)Why the ‘DEI’ approach is also insufficient (15:30-27:06)What her ‘Patriarchy Inc.’ approach adds (27:06-33:42)How we can foster genuine equality in the workplace and society (33:42-42:41)Break‘Testosterone Rex’ and why men’s violence can’t be reduced to biology (42:52-50:55)Fatherhood and why Patriarchy Inc. doesn't work for any of us (50:55-52:12)The use of humour in writing (52:12-55:38)What led Cordelia into researching the science of sex and gender (55:38-01:00:13)Conclusion [The nuances of DEI, Progress being non-linear, The role of trade unions, Capitalism and fatherhood, Valuing care] (01:00:22-01:06:49)

Discussions about masculinity and violence against women have exploded into the spotlight, not least because of the widely-watched Netflix drama ‘Adolescence’. More and more men are asking: Why is ending this violence an issue for me? What can I do to be part of the solution? How can I overcome the barriers holding me back from taking action, such as feelings of defensiveness? These are some of the pressing questions leading anti-violence educator and scholar-activist Dr Jackson Katz addresses in his timely new book, 'Every Man: Why Violence Against Women is a Men’s Issue, and How You Can Make a Difference'.In this episode, Jackson sets out the case for men’s involvement, and essential tools to help us contribute to preventing violence against women: from how to respond when a friend or colleague expresses misogynistic views, to changing the culture among our peers, to developing positive leadership among men on this issue. We also discuss ‘Adolescence’ and its impact on, and implications for, parents, teachers, police officers and other key figures and institutions in young men’s (and women’s) lives. We conclude by revisiting the political situation in the US, and how men are responding to the backward-looking narratives coming from figures like President Trump and Vice-President JD Vance about what ‘real men’ should be like. Jackson is an American educator, speaker and writer internationally renowned for his groundbreaking work on issues of gender, race, and violence. His TEDx Talk 'Violence against women - it's a men's issue' has been watched 5.5 million+ times. He co-founded the pioneering gender violence prevention programme, Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), which was the first large-scale prevention initiative in sports culture and all branches of the US military, and has been rolled out in schools across the US and parts of the UK. Jackson’s book ‘Every Man’ is now available in the UK through Penguin, and will be published in the US by Bloomsbury in Sept 2025: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/every-man-9780241672662Find out more about Jackson’s work: https://www.jacksonkatz.comHis writing for Ms Magazine: https://msmagazine.com/author/jkatz/Follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackson-katz-ph-d-b7785b3/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacksontkatzWatch his TEDx Talk, ‘Violence against women – It’s a men's issue’: https://youtu.be/KTvSfeCRxe8Episode timeline:IntroductionJackson’s views on ‘Adolescence’ and its impact (02:26-06:53)Showing the series in schools (06:53-10:11)Why Jackson wrote ‘Every Man’, and the difficulties of getting a book on this topic published (10:11-14:52)Why men might respond defensively, and how to move past that (14:52-20:52)The positive impacts of feminism on Jackson’s own life (20:52-27:29)BreakThe bystander approach and what it looks in practice (27:36-35:26)Its use in settings such as the military, and a different kind of leadership (35:26-43:52)Masculinity in the Trump 2.0 presidency, and signs of resistance (43:52-53:47)Why men need to face our fears of being ‘unmanned’ (53:47-56:54)Conclusion [The lessons of ‘Adolescence’; The responsibility we all have; Addressing it in schools] (57:02-01:06:30)More info:Gareth Southgate’s Dimblebly Lecture: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/mar/19/gareth-southgate-rails-against-callous-toxic-influencers-in-dimbleby-lectureMichael Kaufman – The triad of men’s violence: https://michaelkaufman.com/articles-2/Terry Real – ‘I don’t want to talk about it’: https://terryreal.com/books/Sandy Ruxton – ‘Masculinity, intimacy, and mourning: A father’s memoir of his son killed in action in world War II’: https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy4020059Mentors in Violence Prevention: https://mvpstrat.comJackson Katz – ‘Bystander Training as Leadership Training’: https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801217753322Young Men’s Research Initiative: https://youngmenresearchinitiative.substack.com

Tarang Chawla knows firsthand the devastating impacts of men’s violence, and the ripple effects it sends through families and communities – including on other boys and men. This is what led him to set up Not One More Niki, in memory of his younger sister Nikita who was murdered by her partner in 2015. Tarang is one of Australia’s most well-known and outspoken male advocates against gender-based violence. He talks to us about where he thinks Australian society needs to go from here in its efforts to end men’s violence against women, after a year in which a series of terrible murders brought this onto the agenda in a way not seen before. We also discuss the position of gender equality and masculinity in the upcoming Australian federal election, including on issues such as ‘law and order’; coming to terms with racism and colonialism in Australia and the UK; and why understanding boys’ and men’s experiences of race and class can help us to reach out to them more meaningfully. Tarang is an award-winning speaker, writer, advocate, and recovering lawyer. Among other things, he is a Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission, and a sessional academic at Monash University and the University of Melbourne. He also wrote, produced and hosted the first two series of the acclaimed podcast There's No Place Like Home.Tarang’s website: https://tarangchawla.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarangchawlaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarangchawla/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarangchawlaonlineNot One More Niki: https://www.instagram.com/notonemorenikiThere’s No Place Like Home: https://www.futurewomen.com/theresnoplacelikehome/Episode timelineIntro and acknowledgement of countryTarang’s journey into working to end men’s violence against women (03:17-06:28)Media portrayals of men who use violence (06:28-10:49)Talking about the ripple effects of men’s violence (10:49-14:04)The obstacles of masculine expectations (14:04-16:15)Men’s experiences of child sexual abuse (16:15-21:30)Being a spokesperson on these issues as a man (21:30-27:42)BreakThe impact of recent high-profile murders of Australian women (27:53-32:17)Debates about prevention work in Australia (32:17-36:35)Masculinity in the upcoming Australian election (36:35-39:09)Discourses about being ‘tough on crime’ (39:09-43:00)The pushback against equity and diversity initiatives (43:00-46:06)Racism in Australia (46:06-49:12)Understanding men and boys’ own experiences of marginalisation (49:12-54:43)Conclusion [Addressing sexism and racism simultaneously; Punitive responses to crime; Coming to the terms with British colonialism] (56:06-01:02:09)More info“Earlier this month, it was announced that former AFL player Ben Cousins will join the Seven Network’s commentary team” https://www.smh.com.au/national/ben-cousins-new-tv-job-is-offensive-to-women-20250314-p5ljni.html“Locking up young people might make you feel safer but it doesn’t work, now or in the long term” https://theconversation.com/locking-up-young-people-might-make-you-feel-safer-but-it-doesnt-work-now-or-in-the-long-term-237742  “Who is the new leader of the Liberal party Peter Dutton?” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/who-is-the-new-leader-of-the-liberal-party-peter-dutton/vwj0p6nyy“Voice referendum normalised racism towards Indigenous Australians, report finds” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/06/voice-referendum-normalised-racism-towards-indigenous-australians-report-findsThank you to Dom Stichbury and Chaps Choir for providing our new music with their song 'Now is time' https://www.facebook.com/ChapsChoir/

The backlash against gender equality, or what its advocates describe with terms such as 'gender ideology' and 'wokeism', is reaching an ever-rising crescendo in Europe and countries across the globe. It poses a major threat to the hard-won achievements of the feminist movement. But what are the forces pushing the 'anti-gender movement' – and how should we respond to it? How is it manifesting itself differently in different countries, and how are politicians exploiting it? How is it seeking to antagonise men's insecurities, whilst offering few solutions to the problems they face? And what can organisations working with boys and men, and each of us as individuals, do in this critical moment? Expert Aleks Dimitrijevic provides us with vital insights. Aleks is the co-founder and president of Men Against Violence in Malta, and a member of the Steering Committee of MenEngage Europe. He talks to us about how Malta was until recently the only country in the EU to completely outlaw abortion, how activists are continuing to struggle to lift the draconian restrictions against it, and the personal challenges he and his family have faced for campaigning in this area.Men Against Violence: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068193336893Men 4 Dem project: https://www.men4dem.eu/MenEngage Europe: https://menengage.org/region/europe/Thank you to Dom Stichbury and Chaps Choir for our new podcast music, with their song 'Now is time' https://www.facebook.com/ChapsChoir/Episode timelineIntroductionGender (in)equality in Malta (02:12-05:17)The struggle to lift Malta’s abortion ban (05:17-08:01)Religious obstacles (08:01-10:39)Personal challenges Aleks and his family have faced (10:39-15:04)What is backlash? (15:04-17:05)Key issues for the 'anti-gender' movement (17:05-20:17)Resistance to preventing violence against women (20:17-26:13)The weaponisation of men’s issues (26:13-29:08)The 'men’s rights' movement (29:08-38:15)BreakRight-wing populism and the mainstreaming of the 'anti-gender' movement (38:18-44:53)What people working with boys and men can do about it (44:53-48:27)Who is funding the backlash (48:27-51:36)Communicating in a language men and boys understand (51:36-55:47)Conclusion [Connections with climate denial; Struggles on the left; Parallels with the 1930s; Majority opinion; Building the next generation of activists] (55:47-01:02:24)More info‘‘Women are treated like walking incubators’: Malta’s fight for abortion’ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/19/the-fight-for-abortion-in-malta‘Malta to allow abortion but only when woman’s life is at risk’ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/28/malta-to-allow-abortion-but-only-when-womans-life-is-at-riskILGA – “For the seventh year in a row, Malta continues to occupy the number one spot on the Rainbow Europe Map, with a score of 92%” https://www.ilga-europe.org/report/rainbow-europe-2022/Women’s Rights Foundation https://www.wrf.org.mtSusan Faludi, ‘Backlash’ https://susanfaludi.com/backlash.htmlSusan Faludi, ‘Stiffed’ https://susanfaludi.com/stiffed.htmlAgnieszka Graff and Elżbieta Korolczuk, ‘Anti-Gender Politics in the Populist Moment’ https://www.routledge.com/Anti-Gender-Politics-in-the-Populist-Moment/Graff-Korolczuk/p/book/9780367679507European Parliamentary Forum https://www.epfweb.org

Masculinity is playing a significant yet under-discussed role in harms against animals and the environment. From hunting, to meat-eating, to driving fast cars, to burning fossil fuels, ‘man’s’ domination of nature is closely connected to gender inequality and masculine norms. In this 50th episode special, we discuss with Dr Cassie Pedersen why we urgently need to break down stereotypes suggesting that it is ‘feminine’ to care for nature, and help boys and men to embrace our interdependence with the world around us. We ask: Do environmental and animal activism challenge gender norms? What can each of us do in our own everyday lives? And how is ecofeminism relevant to men and boys? This is based on a new paper by Cassie and Stephen in the Journal of Criminology, ‘From men's violence to an ethic of care: Ecofeminist contributions to green criminology’.Then, in part two, with Cassie’s help, we review the first 50 episodes of Now and Men. What have been our highlights so far? What directions should the podcast take in the future? And how do we face up to the increasingly authoritarian and destructive times we are living in? Join us in reflecting on the personal and political issues the podcast has explored over the last 3+ years, and what it has taught us about masculinity and allyship today.Dr Cassie Pedersen is a Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Federation University (Australia). Her background is in philosophy, with her PhD being on the theory of trauma, and her current work focuses predominantly on green criminology and harms against non-human animals.Read the paper: https://doi.org/10.1177/26338076241293145A recent piece by Stephen and Cassie, ‘It’s time to recognise the role masculinity is playing in the climate crisis’: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/its-time-to-recognise-the-role-masculinity-is-playing-in-the-climate-crisisCassie’s profile: https://federation.edu.au/institutes-and-schools/ieac/staff-profiles/staf-profiles/cassie-pedersenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassie-pedersen-a30406153/Episode timelineIntroductionMen’s violence and environmental destruction (01:46-05:01)Green criminology and ecofeminism explained (05:01-07:28)The relationship between masculinity and violence against animals (07:28-10:47)Why an ethic of care offers an alternative (10:47-14:16)The impact of ecofeminism on Cassie and Stephen (14:16-19:51)Broadening what we mean by activism (19:51-25:19)The gendered dynamics of environmentalism (25:19-31:52)BreakStandout episodes of Now and Men (31:57-36:56)The most significant issues we have and should cover (36:56-44:28)Bizarre and unusual podcast experiences (44:28-48:40)Gender, podcasting, and allyship (48:40-52:26)Episodes we’ve particularly enjoyed (52:26-54:07)What we’ve learned (54:07-56:51)Inspiring figures of 2024, and messages to take away (56:51-01:02:59)EndMore infoPetra Kelly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra_KellyCarol Adams: https://caroljadams.comLiz Kelly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Kelly‘Hottest year on record sent planet past 1.5C of heating for first time in 2024’: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/10/world-temperature-in-2024-exceeded-15c-for-first-time‘World’s richest use up their fair share of 2025 carbon budget in 10 days’: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/10/worlds-richest-use-up-their-fair-share-of-2025-carbon-budget-in-10-daysRupert Read: https://rupertread.netClimate Majority Project: https://climatemajorityproject.comRaewyn Connell, ‘A whole new world: Remaking masculinity in the context of the environmental movement’: https://doi.org/10.1177/089124390004004003Jimmy Carter Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/wfW3aZCFfLA?feature=sharedJackson Katz, ‘Jimmy Carter was one of the world’s leading anti-sexist men’: https://jacksonkatz.substack.com/p/jimmy-carter-was-one-of-the-worlds‘Nine apologises for using digitally altered image of Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell’: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-30/victorian-mp-georgie-purcell-altered-image/103403664

Why have male voice community choirs become more popular in the UK and beyond in recent years? How are they playing with norms of masculinity? Why is it that choirs often struggle to recruit men? What impact can they have on men’s lives and wellbeing? How are they helping men to connect and find community? And can they help us to build gender equality? In our Christmas Special for 2024, we explore these issues and more with Dom Stichbury.Dom is a choir director, singer, songwriter, arranger, and group singing advocate. He’s the founder and artistic director of London-based groups Chaps Choir and Bellow Fellows, one half of vocal duo Ben and Dom (who do shows and run workshops around the UK), and a member of Oaken (a quartet of singers and choir leaders). He also performs with the Australian-based Spooky Men's Chorale.The episode features recordings of three Chaps Choir’s performances:‘Alilo’: https://soundcloud.com/chapschoir/sets/chaps-choir-live-union-chapel‘Now is time’: https://open.spotify.com/track/3eVsnZrmVwM0asAJOxwCub‘Drop of shanty’: https://open.spotify.com/track/0GB0HIzocneuONyhxehdIw?si=c0fb1d6bc2bd4344Find out more about Dom’s work:http://www.dominicstichbury.comhttp://www.chapschoir.comhttps://www.bellowfellows.comhttps://www.benanddom.comhttps://www.oakenharmony.comhttps://spookymen.comEpisode timeline:‘Alilo’ + Intro (00:00-02:27)The story of Chaps Choir and Bellow Fellows (02:27-04:32)The wider phenomena of male voice community choirs (04:32-06:01)International examples and subverting masculinity (06:01-07:24)Recruiting men (07:24-09:52)How the groups have shifted (09:52-11:54)The benefits of being part of a choir (11:54-16:25)Becoming more attuned with our bodies (16:25-18:00)Differences between mixed and men’s groups (18:00-20:04)Making groups inclusive (20:04-22:53)Encouraging people to sing together in settings like prisons (22:53-25:13)Why men are less likely to join choirs (25:13-29:00)Football chanting (29:00-31:14)Expressing emotion and vulnerability (31:14-35:52)‘Now is time’ (32:34-36:52)The potential for choirs to promote change (36:52-39:42)Which groups of men (don’t) take part (39:42-44:25)Bringing a diverse group together (44:25-46:15)Forging friendships and community (46:15-48:15)Singing during Covid-19 (48:15-50:39)How Dom started singing (50:39-53:40)‘Drop of shanty’ (53:17-55:05)Conclusion (54:32-01:01:25)More info:The Best Sing Since Sliced Bread: https://www.bestsingsince.co.ukHuutajat: https://www.huutajat.org/en/Research by Emily Falconer - ‘In harmony or out of tune: Affective and emotional geographies of all-male choirs in London, UK’: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2022.100925Singing in the Shed: https://www.singingintheshed.co.ukPhilip Read: https://www.philipread.net/Blokefest: https://www.blokefest.netManchoir: http://manchoir.co.uk‘True colours’, Manchoir: https://youtu.be/8tioUZghMQY‘Will you still love me tomorrow’, Bellow Fellows: https://youtu.be/qgRuVkmwXrIFind a choir: https://www.naturalvoice.net'Glorious Rabble', Extinction Rebellion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Qmiyn68Es