AntiSocial

At first it was about creating an image that people could aspire to. Then, in the 2000s, brands started promoting their products based on values. Now marketers have entered the ‘dark mode shift’ where the only aim is to ‘ruthlessly’ make money. So says Eugene Healey, brand strategy consultant. He talks to Adam Fleming about the thought process behind branding and how it has evolved over time.

A jeans advert featuring the American actress Sydney Sweeney talking about her good genes provoked fierce reaction - and then came the backlash to the backlash.Some people say the advert promotes a eugenicist ideal of blonde hair and blue eyes. Others say it's a sign that the days of diversity in the advertising industry are over. Is 'woke' dead? And what does the controversy tell us about how brands use culture to get our attention?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Lucy Proctor, Natasha Fernandes, Mike Wendling Editor: Penny Murphy Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio engineer: Annie Gardiner

Cheating, ghosting and catfishing are all rife in modern dating and it’s often assumed that men are the ones behaving badly, with women the victims. But the evidence on which of the sexes deserves the most red flags is more complex than we might assume. Adam Fleming speaks to Dr Jenny van Hooff, reader in sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University, about what studies have shown.

An app offering women dating safety tools and advice has suspended some of its services following a hack, sparking a debate between the sexes about fairness and respect in dating. Tea, which lets women do background checks on potential male dates, is only available in the USA, but the incident has prompted discussion about similar online groups available in the UK, like 'Are We Dating The Same Guy' on Facebook. Some users say online spaces where they can flag concerns about infidelity or potential abuse are vital for women's wellbeing and safety, but some men feel they are being treated unfairly and that the groups are spreading lies.We spill the tea on the Tea app, look at the laws around what users can and can't say on these groups, and ask whether men really are less trustworthy than women when it comes to dating. Plus, online dating has changed the way we meet potential partners - how has the industry evolved? Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Lucy Proctor, Nik Sindle, Natasha Fernandes Editor: Penny Murphy Studio Manager: Hal Haines

In 2023, a big piece of research was published examining the way different ethnic groups experienced racism in the UK. Racism and Ethnic Inequality in a Time of Crisis analysed the responses to one the largest surveys of ethnic minorities ever conducted in Britain. Dr Dharmi Kapadia is a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Manchester and worked on the project. She told Adam about what the study found.

The debate around a hierarchy of racism was reignited this week when Labour MP Diane Abbott appeared on a BBC Radio 4 podcast and discussed previous comments she'd made about racism.She maintained there is a difference between racism based on skin colour and other kinds of racism. This sparked conversation around the different types of racism and prejudice faced by Black people, Jewish people, and Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller people. We look at the statistics and discuss the history of the anti-racism movement.Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Lucy Proctor, Nik Sindle, Simon Maybin, Natasha Fernandes Editor: Penny Murphy Studio Manager: Hal Haines

It’s always been difficult to get a book published. But is it especially difficult now if you’re man who writes fiction? That’s the claim being made by some who say female authors are squeezing their male counterparts off the bookshelves. So who decides which books get published? Amelia Fairney spent 30 years in the publishing business. She talks Adam through the process.

Just a few years ago the gender gap in book publishing was seen as an issue to address, with many publishing houses focussed on boosting women authors. Has it all gone too far? Are men, especially straight, white men, now being locked out of telling their stories? And what might that mean for society?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Nik Sindle, Lucy Proctor, Tim Gillet Editor: Richard Vadon

A new law to bolster workers' rights by making it an employer's job to prevent staff being harassed by customers and clients, as well as fellow colleagues, has been criticised by some as an attack on free speech. Opponents worry that harmless banter - in pubs, for example - might need to be monitored as a result of this new legislation. That's denied by the government. The word ‘banter’ has seen a resurgence in the last few decades. Tony Thorne, a lexicologist and language consultant at King’s College London, tells Adam when the banter began.

An extension of workers' rights, designed to further protect them from harassment on the job, has been criticised as an attack on free speech.The Employment Rights Bill, first tabled in October 2024, would make it an employer's responsibility to prevent harassment of their staff by customers, clients and members of the public, as well as fellow colleagues. Some argue the bill, which is not yet law, would effectively outlaw banter - particularly in settings like pubs - and pressure companies to more closely monitor conversations. Others welcome the plans, arguing that workplace harassment is rife and that banter is often used as an excuse for discriminatory and upsetting behaviour.We go through the proposed changes, look at examples where banter has been used as a defence in court, and explore the origins and evolution of the word itself.Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Tom Gillett, Nik Sindle Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy