Now and Men

Responding to serious public concern following the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer, together with multiple other deeply disturbing incidents, Baroness Casey’s recent independent review of London’s Metropolitan Police has highlighted institutional misogyny, racism and homophobia in the force. The review found serious failings in the Met’s leadership, recruitment, vetting, training, culture and communications, and made widespread recommendations for restoring public trust.In this episode, we talk to Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), about their response to the ongoing revelations coming out of the Met and Britain’s police forces; what needs to be done to take forward efforts to prevent violence against women and girls in the UK at this critical moment; and the contribution men and boys can make to that.The End Violence Against Women Coalition is a group of feminist organisations and experts across the UK, working to end violence against women and girls in all its forms. It’s made up of over 135 specialist women’s support services, researchers, activists, survivors and NGOs. Andrea has worked at EVAW since 2017, and before that she campaigned on issues such as child trafficking and modern slavery and spent more than a decade working for Members of Parliament.Find out more about EVAW: http://evaw.org.ukTwitter: https://twitter.com/evawukFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/endviolenceagainstwomen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evawuk/Follow Andrea on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndreaSimon48We cover the following topics in this episode: The Casey Review of the culture and standards of behaviour within the Metropolitan Police, and responses to it (00:55 - 04:52)The gendered ways in which police resources are distributed (04:53-07:58)The extent to which reforming the police is possible (07:58-10:41)Seeking radical change whilst pushing for action in the here and now (10:41-13:05)Why prevention work is so important and what more needs to be done (13:05-16:57)The role of schools in prevention, and EVAW’s #AboutTime campaign (16:57-20:22)The contribution men and boys can make to ending violence against women (20:22-24:03)Tensions which can arise when working with men and boys (24:03-25:43)Shifts Andrea has observed during her time in the violence against women sector (25:43-30:03)What keeps Andrea motivated and hopeful in doing this work (30:03-32:26)Why an intersectional, anti-racist approach is so important (32:26-36:20)The impact of anti-immigration rhetoric on efforts to support victim-survivors (36:20-39:09)Backlash to gender equality from figures such as Andrew Tate (39:09-42:45)Tackling online abuse, and the UK’s Online Safety Bill (42:45-44:50)Bringing about political action (44:50-48:42)Why a feminist approach is so valuable (48:42-52:02)Further resources:EVAW’s #AboutTime campaign: https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/campaign/abouttime/EVAW’s campaign against online abuse: https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/campaign/online-abuse/Louise Casey's Report: https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/about-us/about-the-met/bcr/baroness-casey-review/Anti-Racism in VAWG Working Group: https://www.endingracisminvawg.orgUK Government ‘Enough’ campaign: https://enough.campaign.gov.ukA piece by Stephen, Sandy and Prof Nicole Westmarland for The Conversation from 2021, ‘Sarah Everard, police culture and the ‘masculinised’ workplaces we can all help change’: https://theconversation.com/sarah-everard-police-culture-and-the-masculinised-workplaces-we-can-all-help-change-169774The ‘Macpherson Report’ from The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (1999): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-stephen-lawrence-inquiry‘‘We could have saved Sarah,’ says victim of Wayne Couzens’s indecent exposure’ (Guardian, 6th Mar 2023) - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/06/we-could-have-saved-sarah-says-victim-of-wayne-couzens-indecent-exposure‘‘Endemic’ sexism in Met police led to undercover deception, inquiry told’ (Guardian, 21st Feb 2023) - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/21/endemic-sexism-in-met-police-led-to-undercover-deception-inquiry-told‘David Carrick: Serial rapist Met Police officer in prison at least 30 years’ (BBC, 7th Feb 2023) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64540800‘Sex education review is ‘politically motivated’, say teaching unions’ (Guardian, 8th March 2023) - https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/mar/08/sex-education-review-is-politically-motivated-say-teaching-unions‘Keir Starmer promises to halve violence against women as part of crime ‘mission’’ (Guardian, 23rd March 2023) - https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/23/keir-starmer-promises-to-halve-violence-against-women-as-part-of-labour-crime-mission  ‘Operation Soteria: a new approach to investigating rape’ (Guardian podcast, 24th Oct 2022) - https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2022/oct/24/operation-soteria-rape-conviction-rates-podcastIf you have been affected by sexual violence, information and support is available from Rape Crisis: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/Contact the UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

Some people migrate in search of work or economic opportunities, to join family, or to study. Others to escape war, conflict, persecution, or human rights abuses. Increasingly, people move in response to climate crises and natural disasters. Despite these realities, migration and migrants are often portrayed negatively by the media and politicians, with policy and legislation made more and more restrictive. Many of these people are men - however, migration is rarely discussed in relation to gender and masculinity. Migrating men are often perceived in purely economic terms, or as a ‘threat’, linked to criminality, sexism, and terrorism. But what do we know about these men’s actual experiences, and how they navigate masculine expectations and power relations? This is what Dr Katarzyna Wojnicka has explored in her research, particularly with a large yet under-discussed group – that of Eastern European men migrating across Europe from countries such as Poland. Katarzyna is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, based in the Department of Sociology and Work Science, and the Centre for European Research. She’s also an Editor in-Chief for NORMA, the International Journal for Masculinity Studies.Find out more about Katarzyna’s research: https://www.gu.se/en/about/find-staff/katarzynawojnicka and https://katarzynawojnicka.com Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrKandTheMen Follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarzyna-wojnicka-787a7072/ In this episode we cover the following topics:Why men and migration is a topic worth studyingThe main pieces of research Katarzyna has conducted in this area, such as her research on ‘transnational bachelors’The vulnerabilities arising from migrationWhy there has been little attention towards Eastern European men in research on migration in EuropeResearching this topic as an ‘insider’Why Katarzyna left PolandWhy she decided to research men and masculinitiesAttacks on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights in PolandSingle male migrants’ constructions of masculinityThe problems with ‘protective masculinity’What ‘hybrid masculinity’ means in the context of migrationWhy a ‘spatial’ approach is vital to understanding masculinitiesImproving public policy responsesThe war in Ukraine, refugees and genderPolitical discourses about migration in the UKFurther reading:Here is a selection of papers by Katarzyna which we discuss in the episode:‘Migrant men in the nexus of space and (dis)empowerment’ (NORMA, 2017): https://doi.org/10.1080/18902138.2017.1342061‘Self-positioning as a man in transnational contexts: constructing and managing hybrid masculinity’ (NORMA, 2017): https://doi.org/10.1080/18902138.2017.1341768 'Research on men, masculinities and migration: past, present and future’ (NORMA, 2019): https://doi.org/10.1080/18902138.2019.1622058 ‘Boyz2Men: Male migrants’ attitudes to homosexuality and what age has to do with it’ (Boyhood Studies, 2020): https://doi.org/10.3167/bhs.2020.130205 ‘Understanding migrant masculinities through a spatially intersectional lens (Men and Masculinities, 2021)’: https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X20986224 ‘Hegemonic masculinity: Rethinking the concept’ (Connell and Messerschmidt, Gender and Society, 2005): https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243205278639‘Hybrid masculinities: New directions in the sociology of men and masculinities’ (Bridges and Pascoe, Sociology Compass, 2014): https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12134 ‘Suella Braverman condemned for suggesting 100 million migrants could come to UK’ (The Independent, 8th March 2023): https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/suella-braverman-asylum-small-boats-inflammatory-b2295776.html

War and militarism often play a central role in the construction of dominant, ‘desirable’ ideas about masculinity. So what happens when men refuse to take part in the militarisation of society, and become conscientious objectors? Dr Demet Aslı Çaltekin has researched this with people who have conscientiously objected against compulsory military service in Turkey. We were planning to interview Demet before the horrific earthquakes in Turkey and Syria took place, and she very kindly agreed to speak to us about the impact and response, amidst the mixture of emotions that many feel at present. Whilst the main focus of media and popular attention is rightly on the disaster and its aftermath, it is also an opportunity to highlight some of the other complex issues at the heart of Turkish society. We therefore talk with her not only about her research on militarism, but also how the feminist movement in Turkey has been creatively campaigning against femicide and violence against women.Demet is an Assistant Professor in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice in the Law School at Durham University. She has recently written a book called ‘Conscientious Objection in Turkey: A Socio-legal Analysis of the Right to Refuse Military Service’, published by Edinburgh University Press.Find out more about Demet’s research: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/demet-a-caltekin/Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemetCaltekinOrder her book, and save 30% with the discount code NEW30: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-conscientious-objection-in-turkey.htmlRead her 2022 article, ‘Women’s organisations’ role in (re)constructing the narratives in femicide cases: Şule Çet’s case’: https://doi.org/10.3390/laws11010012Please consider donating to organisations in Turkey/Syria undertaking relief efforts in response to the earthquakes: UK Disasters Emergency Committee: https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/turkey-syria-earthquake-appealTurkish Red Crescent: https://www.ifrc.org/article/turkiye-and-syria-earthquakes-ifrc-response-dateINARA – International Network for Aid and Assistance: https://inara.orgWhite Helmets Syria: https://www.whitehelmets.org/en/In this episode we cover the following topics:The impact of the earthquakesThe relief efforts and the national and international responseWhat military service in Turkey involvesWhat led Demet to do this research, and think differently about militarisationThe conscientious objectors who took part in her research and their motivationsHow Turkish society responds to people who conscientiously objectThe right to conscientious objection, and its legal and social consequencesHow militarism and nationalism fit into Turkish historyWhat militarism and refusing to participate in it has to do with masculinityHow and why Turkish women engage in conscientious objectionParallels with militarism in British societyThe value of a socio-legal approach, and working to change the lawThe war in Ukraine and refusing to fightFemicide in Turkey and the feminist movement’s response Challenges facing women’s civil society organisations in TurkeyThe Turkish government’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, and backlash against gender equalityFurther reading/listening:Cynthia Enloe’s 2016 book, ‘Globalization and Militarism: Feminists Make the Link’: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442265455/Globalization-and-Militarism-Feminists-Make-the-Link-Second-EditionNow and Men episode 11 with Prof Paul Higate, ‘Militarism and Military Masculinities: Why Do They Matter?’: https://now-and-men.captivate.fm/episode/paul-higateNow and Men episode 8 with Prof Bob Pease, ‘Masculinities, Climate Change, and Men’s Relationships with Nature’: https://now-and-men.captivate.fm/episode/climate-change

What can a historical and global perspective teach us about feminism and gender relations? How have men engaged with women's movements over the course of their history in the UK and beyond? And how have anti-sexist men dealt with the challenging questions feminists raise about our emotional and sexual lives within patriarchy? These are some of the questions Professor Lucy Delap has explored in her fascinating research.Please note that this conversation features some discussion of sexual violence, in particular between minutes 32 and 39.Lucy is a Professor in Modern British and Gender History at the University of Cambridge, where she is a Fellow of Murray Edwards College. Her research has principally focused on the history of feminism, and in 2020 she published the book ‘Feminisms: A Global History’. Lucy has also worked extensively in labour history, with a focus on the intersections of gender, class and disability. She helped create the ‘Unbecoming Men’ and ‘The Business of Women’s Words’ oral history collections at the British Library. She and colleagues were awarded the Royal Historical Society Public History Prize in 2018 for their work on child sexual abuse. Find out more about her work here: https://www.hist.cam.ac.uk/people/prof-lucy-delap, and follow her on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/suff66.In this episode we explore the following topics: What a historical perspective brings to our understanding of feminism, gender, and masculinities (00:42 - 02:47)How we can study the history of people’s intimate lives and the ‘private sphere’ (02:47 - 04:21)What led Lucy to become involved in studying gender, feminist history, and men’s responses to it (04:21 - 09:11)Lucy’s research on men who became involved in anti-sexist activism in the UK in the wake of the Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1970s/80s (09:11 - 14:21)Why the nature of men’s pro-feminist political organising has changed over time (14:21 - 18:02)How and why the ‘men’s movement’ splintered off into different directions (e.g. mythopoetic and ‘men’s rights’ activism) (18:02 - 23:52)Why issues of emotion, such as guilt and shame, are so important in understanding men’s engagements with feminism (23:52 - 33:45)Men reflecting on and reconfiguring their ‘sex lives’ and the male gaze in response to feminist activism against sexual violence (33:45 - 43:48)The value of adopting a global perspective on feminist movements (43:48 - 49:25)Lucy reads from her book ‘Feminisms’ about the work of Nigerian feminist activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (49:25 - 55:07)Further reading:Lucy’s book, ‘Feminisms: A Global History’ (Penguin, 2020) - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/305361/feminisms-by-delap-lucy/9780141985985Information about Lucy’s ‘Unbecoming Men’ British Library project - https://www.bl.uk/womens-rights/articles/male-allies and https://www.bl.uk/sisterhood/articles/mens-reponses-to-womens-liberationLucy’s article, ‘Rethinking rapes: Men’s sex lives and feminist critiques’ in Contemporary British History (2022) - https://doi.org/10.1080/13619462.2022.2051489Lucy’s article ‘Feminism, masculinities and emotional politics in the late twentieth century’ in Cultural and Social History (2018) - https://doi.org/10.1080/14780038.2018.1518560‘30 years of the Child Support Act’ (UK Parliament, 2021) - https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/30-years-of-the-child-support-act/Berger, J. (1972) Ways of Seeing. London: BBC and Penguin Books.Butler, J. (2006) Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. London: Routledge.Roper, M. (2005) Slipping out of View: Subjectivity and Emotion in Gender History (in History Workshop Journal).Roper, M. and Tosh, J. (1991) Manful Assertions: Masculinities in Britain since 1800. London: Routledge. Segal, L. (1990) Slow Motion: Changing Masculinities, Changing Men, London: Virago.Smith, H. (2015) Masculinity, Class and Same-Sex Desire in Industrial England, 1895-1957. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.Tosh, J. (1999) A Man’s Place: Masculinity and the Middle-Class Home in Victorian England. London: Yale University Press.If you have been affected by sexual violence, information and support is available from Rape Crisis: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/

For over 10 years, Beyond Equality have been engaging with young men in the UK to give them a chance to reflect on who they want to be, and how they can help create safer and more inclusive communities. This was originally through two different organisations: the Good Lad Initiative in universities and Great Men in schools. Since then they have become Beyond Equality, and now work with men and boys in a range of different settings and communities across the UK. Dan Guinness, the Managing Director, was one of the founders - he talks to us about the journey the organisation has been on, and what they have learnt about how to engage men and boys in transformative conversations about issues such as gender equality, relationships, violence against women, and mental health.Dan has an academic background, holding a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Oxford. He discusses with us some of the fascinating findings from his research on the links between sport, masculinity, global economic inequalities and neo-liberalism, and how this is embodied in the current Qatar 2022 men’s football World Cup. In addition, he explores the possibilities for healthy and inclusive environments to be created within sport, and his own powerful story of how he came to be involved in gender equality work.  You can find out more about Beyond Equality at: https://www.beyondequality.orgTwitter: https://twitter.com/beyond_equalityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_equality/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondequality1Follow Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danguinness/We cover the following topics in this episode: Dan’s personal journey of getting involved in issues of gender equality, masculinity and violence preventionThe extent to which egalitarian, non-violent cultures can be created in sportHow the rise of neoliberalism since the 1980s together with ‘breadwinner’ expectations have pressured young men in the Global South to become involved in professional sportHow Beyond Equality started and has changed over time, and the work it’s doing nowThe importance of good quality facilitation in work with men and boysHow Beyond Equality evaluate the impact of their work Future plans, including a new project with Movember about men’s mental health and collective resilience (more info: https://www.beyondequality.org/blog-posts/announcement-collective-resilience-in-community-settings-project-funded-by-movember) How debates in the UK about masculinity and violence against women have shifted in recent years, and what still needs to change at the policy levelMore information:You can access much of Dan’s research here: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Daniel-Guinness-2126813915Besnier, N., Calabrò, D.G. and Guinness, D. (eds) (2021) Sport, Migration, and Gender in the Neoliberal Age. Abingdon: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Sport-Migration-and-Gender-in-the-Neoliberal-Age/Besnier-Calabro-Guinness/p/book/9781138390652Besnier, N., Guinness, D., Hann, M. and Kovac, U. (2018) Rethinking masculinity in the neoliberal order: Cameroonian footballers, Fijian rugby players, and Senegalese wrestlers. Comparative Studies in Society and History, 60(4): 839–872. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0010417518000312Jackson, D. (1990) Unmasking Masculinity: A Critical Autobiography. London: Unwin. https://www.routledge.com/Unmasking-Masculinity-Routledge-Revivals-A-Critical-Autobiography/Jackson/p/book/9781138808713

Gary Barker has been a trailblazer in the field of men and masculinities for over thirty years. He is the co-founder and CEO of Equimundo (formerly known as Promundo-US and Instituto Promundo), which does a wide range of innovative work and research with men and boys for gender justice across the globe. We explore his own personal story of how he came to be involved in efforts against violence and for gender equality, and how his own ‘journey’ overlaps with the development of the organisations he has led. As well as hearing from Gary about some of the exciting current elements of this work, we discuss the political turbulence in the United States (where he is based) and Brazil (where he has lived for over fifteen years) in the midst of elections in the two countries. Gary also shares with us his experience of writing fiction, and the conversation ends with him reading a passage from his novel ‘The Museum of Lost Love’.Find out more about Equimundo and follow them on social media via https://equimundo.orgOn 8th November 2022 the Global Boyhood Initiative launched a report called ‘The State of UK Boys’ - read it here: https://boyhoodinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/State-of-UK-Boys-Long-Report.pdf (pdf)Watch the launch event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efxq6M9ESAMFind out more about Gary’s fiction writing: https://garytbarker.comWe discuss the following topics in the episode:How Gary became involved in working on issues of masculinity, violence and gender equality in the first placeGary’s PhD in Developmental Psychology, which researched young men’s experiences of growing up in societies with high levels of violence, and led to the book ‘Dying to be Men’ (more info:https://www.routledge.com/Dying-to-be-Men-Youth-Masculinity-and-Social-Exclusion/Barker/p/book/9780415337755#)The history of Equimundo, and how Gary’s personal story maps onto thatThe International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) survey and generational shifts that can be observed from itThe Global Boyhood Initiative – a collaboration with the Kering Foundation, Gillette, Plan International, and Meghan Markle (the Duchess of Sussex) and her new podcast ArchetypesCaring masculinities, the MenCare global fatherhood campaign, and why caregiving is such an important part of engaging with men and boys The political turmoil in the United States surrounding the midterm elections - from the attack on Capitol Hill, to the rolling back of abortion rights, to the ever-increasing toll of gun violenceConnections with the masculinist right-wing populism of the Bolsonaro government in BrazilThe four fiction books Gary has written and how they connect to his other workGary reads out and reflects on a passage from his novel ‘The Museum of Lost Love’ (2019), which is influenced by a real museum, the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb (more info: https://www.worldeditions.org/product/the-museum-of-lost-love/) More information:The Global Boyhood Initiative: https://boyhoodinitiative.orgLifting Limits are the organisation delivering the Global Boyhood Initiative in the UK: https://liftinglimits.org.uk/2022/05/gbiuk_launch/The MenCare global fatherhood campaign: https://men-care.orgThe International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES): https://www.menandgendersurvey.orgResearch with the Geena Davis Institute on representations of masculinity in boys’ television: https://www.equimundo.org/resources/if-he-can-see-it-will-he-be-it-representations-of-masculinity-in-boys-television/Article by Gary, Stephen and Sandy for the journal Men and Masculinities on ‘Covid-19 and Masculinities in Global Perspective’: https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X21100038The Equimundo report by Sandy and Stephen which influenced it: https://www.equimundo.org/resources/masculinities-and-covid-19-making-the-connections/A couple of times, Gary refers to ‘Raewyn’ – this is Prof Raewyn Connell, who we interviewed in episode 12: https://now-and-men.captivate.fm/episode/raewyn-connell

In this special 20th episode, Sandy and Stephen reflect on the year since we started Now and Men, and our experience of running the podcast so far. The episode was recorded live at a workshop at a conference called 'Boys at the Crossroads – Insights and Innovations in Young Masculinities', organised by Bristol Young Men’s Network in the UK on 14th October 2022. We discuss why we set the podcast up in the first place, what it has achieved thus far, and the role that podcasts and other media can play in engaging with men and boys about gender equality and influencing constructions of masculinity. In the second half of the episode, we also respond to a range of questions from the workshop participants.The conversation was facilitated by Yaz Brien, who’s involved in Bristol Young Men’s Network, and has worked across the frontlines of homelessness, mental health, drug and alcohol recovery and domestic abuse, as well as on community reuse and nature-based projects. They’ve also been involved in grassroots organising and activism across multiple continents, including in worker, housing and community cooperatives. Many thanks to Yaz and the workshop participants for their brilliant contributions! If you would like to put a question or comment to us to discuss in a future episode, do contact us at nowandmen@gmail.com. Yaz is involved in the Transition Network: https://transitionnetwork.org/people/yaz-brien/, and has previously been a presenter on Ujima Radio, Bristol's Black-led community radio station: https://www.ujimaradio.comFind out more about Bristol Young Men's Network: https://www.facebook.com/BristolYMN/. In the episode we also mention talks at the conference by Lewis Wedlock: https://www.lewiswedlock.com, and Nate Eisenstadt: https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/nathan-eisenstadt We discuss the following topics:Why we set up Now and MenWhat we wanted to achieve with the podcast, and how successful it's been so farThe response we've received, and what we know about Now and Men's audienceWhat's particularly excited us from the guests we've spoken to far, in relation to the conference theme of young masculinitiesHow to have conversations about masculinity without creating further polarisationWhat the role of feminism is in the podcastHow podcasts differ from other mediums and forms of engagementWhat we've learnt from the process and how it's changed usAdvice for others looking to start a podcastWho we have in our mind's eye when creating the podcastWith the following questions from participants:How skills from academia can help with setting up a podcastHow universities don't always provide welcoming environments for disadvantaged studentsConnections between the diversity of our guestsHow to deal with the limitations of what a podcast can achieveShould we strive for 'healthy masculinity', or seek to move away from it altogether?Difficulties with challenging gender stereotypes as parentsHow a historical perspective can help us understand how gender is constructed

What impact does domestic abuse have on boys when growing up? Why is it that so many young men who are ‘on-road’ or involved in gangs have experienced domestic abuse in the home as children? If the boundaries between being a ‘perpetrator’ and a ‘victim’ of violence are not always as clear cut as we might think, what implications does this have for trying to prevent violence from happening in the first place? We explore these challenging questions and more with Dr Jade Levell, who has recently written a book on her research entitled ‘Boys, Childhood Domestic Abuse and Gang Involvement: Violence at Home, Violence On-Road’, published by Bristol University Press in June 2022.Jade is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Gender Violence at the University of Bristol, and is part of the Gender and Violence Research Centre there. Prior to her research career she was based for over ten years in organisations working to end gender-based violence, including a refuge for women and children, a rape crisis centre, and other projects supporting survivors.Find out more about Jade’s work at https://jadelevell.com. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JadeLevell, and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jade-levell-88099830/. Buy her book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/boys-childhood-domestic-abuse-and-gang-involvementWe cover the following topics in the episode: The impacts domestic abuse has on boys (01:17 - 02:56)What childhood domestic abuse and gang involvement have to do with each other (02:56 - 11:33)What Raewyn Connell’s concept of ‘protest masculinity’ means and how it was relevant in Jade’s research (11:33 - 14:56)Why and how Jade uses ‘music elicitation’ in her work (14:56 - 18:41)Why when talking about serious youth violence, we rarely think about gender (18:41 - 21:37)The implications of Jade’s research for policy and practice on preventing violence (21:37 - 24:44)The ‘cycle of violence’ theory (24:44 - 28:00)The police killing of Chris Kaba and the impacts of stereotypes about young Black men (28:00 - 32:12)Why Jade decided to carry out research on domestic abuse and boys and men in the first place (32:12 - 36:54)Researching these issues as a parent (36:54 - 40:16)What effective work with domestic abuse perpetrators looks like (40:16 - 49:25)Three songs which help to tell Jade’s own life story (49:25 - 53:13)Further reading:Piece by Jade for Transforming Society, ‘Invisible child victims of DVA become hyper-visible in gangs’ - https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2022/06/13/invisible-child-victims-of-dva-become-hyper-visible-in-gangs/Summary of policy recommendations from Jade’s book - https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2022/06/13/policy-briefing-boys-childhood-domestic-abuse-and-gang-involvement/Read more about Jade’s music elicitation method in the journal Sociological Review - https://thesociologicalreview.org/magazine/november-2021/methods-and-methodology/music-elicitation/Read more about Jade’s research on work with perpetrators of domestic abuse in the Journal of Gender-Based Violence - https://doi.org/10.1332/239868021X16425822261273‘Protests across UK over killing of unarmed black man Chris Kaba’ (The Guardian) - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/17/protest-uk-met-police-killing-black-chris-kaba‘A thousand young, black men removed from Met gang violence prediction database’ (The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/03/a-thousand-young-black-men-removed-from-met-gang-violence-prediction-databaseFor domestic abuse support in the UK, contact the National Helpline: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk, the Men’s Advice Line: https://mensadviceline.org.uk, or the Respect Phoneline if you’re concerned about your own behaviour: https://respectphoneline.org.uk

How can we engage with men in the workplace about gender equality and masculinity? Sebastián Molano deals with this question on a day-to-day basis at Oxfam America, where he has facilitated a regular ‘men-identified’ group for the last 4.5 years, discussing men’s role in relation to gender justice issues such as privilege, accountability, and decolonisation. The group was established in part in response to sexual misconduct and power abuses by Oxfam staff which were uncovered in Haiti and other countries in 2017 and 2018.Sebastián has been working at Oxfam America for over 5 years, and now leads their efforts to translate intersectional feminism commitments into practice. He has over 16 years of experience in the international development field, working in the US, Latin America and the Caribbean. Sebastián also discusses the Defying Gender Roles initiative he set up, navigating the challenges of fatherhood in a patriarchal society, and how workplaces should do more to encourage caregiving. Originally from Colombia and now living in Boston, we ask Sebastián about responses to the overturning of the landmark 1973 Roe vs Wade abortion rights ruling in the US. Our conversation concludes by exploring the implications of Colombia recently electing its first ever left-wing president, and Sebastián’s experience of growing up in a society riven by conflict.You can follow Sebastián on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastianmolano/ and Twitter: @JuanseMolano. Find out more about Oxfam America: https://www.oxfamamerica.org. Read about the Defying Gender Roles project: https://www.defyingenderoles.org, and follow it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/defyingenderoles/, and Twitter: https://twitter.com/DefygenderolesWe cover the following topics in this episode:Sebastián’s reflections on 4 years of fatherhood and trying to be a ‘feminist dad’Men’s experiences of parenting, our relationships with our own fathers, and with patriarchyThe men-identified group Sebastián facilitates at Oxfam AmericaKey lessons and advice about running a group discussing masculinity in the workplaceAddressing the loneliness and lack of connection many men feelChanging the culture at Oxfam after cases of sexual misconduct in Haiti and other countriesPromoting caregiving among men in the workplaceAttacks on abortion rights in the USThe recent election results in Colombia and what it means for gender equalityWhy Sebastián set up Defying Gender RolesFurther resources relevant to the episode:Sebastián’s piece, ‘How to become a feminist dad: Four years later’ - https://www.defyingenderoles.org/master-in-love/2022/8/5/how-to-become-a-feminist-dad-four-years-laterbell hooks (2004) ‘The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love’ - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Will-to-Change/bell-hooks/9780743456081David Spiegelhalter, ‘I’ve been meeting with the same group of men for 36 years – here’s what they’ve taught me’ (The Guardian) - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jul/23/meeting-same-group-men-years-david-spiegelhalterGender at Work podcast episode 22, ‘Feminist Reckonings or Feminist Wrecking Balls?’ -https://genderatwork.org/podcast-episodes/episode-22-feminist-reckonings-or-feminist-wrecking-balls/Oxfam discussion paper ‘Feminist Futures: Caring for People, Caring for Justice and Rights’ (2020) by Kim Piaget, Clare Coffey, Sebastián Molano, and Maria José Moreno Ruiz - https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/handle/10546/621046Report by Sandy for Oxfam in 2018, ‘Gender Equality is Everyone’s Responsibility: Oxfam’s work engaging men and boys for gender justice’ - https://oxfam.app.box.com/s/2sk4nd2i74otsm7ukiki082k3ole3i3xConversation UK article by Sandy and Stephen - ‘Roe v Wade: men benefit from abortion rights too – and should speak about them more’ - https://theconversation.com/roe-v-wade-men-benefit-from-abortion-rights-too-and-should-speak-about-them-more-185523Piece by Sebastián for Voice Male magazine, ‘Will peace ever get a chance in Colombia?’ - https://voicemalemagazine.org/will-peace-ever-get-a-chance-in-colombia/‘What it means to be a man and the struggle for gender equality’, TEDx Talk by Sebastián, 20 March 2015 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io9vXNII7eI

Prisons can be hyper-masculine, harsh, hierarchical environments where there is a lot of pressure to be tough, never show weakness or emotion, and be prepared to use violence in order to survive. But is it possible to work with men in these spaces to unpack the rigid, restrictive expectations of masculinity that boys and men learn from wider society – and which might have played a part in why they are in prison in the first place? We talk to Dan Boyden, lead facilitator on the ‘Man Up’, ‘Family Man’ and ‘Fathers Inside’ programmes run by the UK charity Safe Ground, about how they do this in their work. We discuss how, in order to reduce crime, perhaps we need to not only work with individual men in prison, but also change prison cultures and the criminal justice system more broadly.Safe Ground design and deliver arts-based programmes for people in prison and the community. Find out more (pdf): http://www.safeground.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Safe-Ground-A-Vision.pdf. Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Safe_Ground and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safe_ground/Dan Boyden is also the director of an organisation called The Change Collective, which brings together creative practitioners seeking to use the arts as a tool for social change: https://www.thechangecollective.com. Follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-boyden-4517542b/. He has given a TED Talk on ‘Creativity and the Alchemy of Groups’: https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_boyden_creativity_the_alchemy_of_groupsWe cover the following topics in this episode:What the ‘Man Up’, ‘Family Man’ and 'Fathers Inside' programmes are about, and what Safe Ground’s work with men in prisons involvesChallenges involved in doing group work with men in prisonHow the prisons themselves interact with Safe Ground’s workShifts in penal policy in the UK towards more punitive responsesWhy Dan and Safe Ground use arts-based methodsEngaging with men in prison about fatherhoodWhat impacts the work has on the men who take partThe need for more engagement with men and boys across society about masculine norms and expectationsHow Dan got involved in working on masculinity issues, and the impact the work has on himFurther reading:‘Treatment of UK prisoners during Covid meets UN definition of torture’ (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/20/treatment-of-uk-prisoners-during-covid-meets-un-definition-of-tortureMaslow’s hierarchy of needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.htmlTheatre of the Oppressed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_the_Oppressed, and its founder, Augusto Boal: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Augusto-BoalPoet, playwright and performer Inua Ellams: http://www.inuaellams.com‘Growing Out of Crime’ by Andrew Rutherford, which discusses the work of Jerome Miller in Massachusetts, decarceration and young people: https://www.watersidepress.co.uk/books/growing-out-of-crime-9781872870496/A great US documentary, 'The Feminist on Cellblock Y': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYxTzsabkH8