Welcome to the 5th episode of the GlutenFitz podcast, run by two uni students. Today, we are joined by Lilith Hudson and Meagan Harnett to discuss toxic masculinity and a number of gender related issues associated with it. In what is quite a deep discussion, we cover masculine aggression, homophobia, whether the differences between men and women are genetic or socially constructed, whether the dialogue around masculinity is actually detrimental to men and women, masculine archetypes, toxic femininity, and so much more. Time stamps are below.

We would like to thank Lilith and Meagan for joining us on the podcast, and thank you all for listening, we really appreciate it! Please follow us on Spotify for more podcasts, and on Instagram @GlutenFitzPodcast and on Twitter @GlutenFitz to stay up-to-date. Big love, Max and Joe.

Creds to Sophie Champion for our logo and the royalty music is Flow [Sting] from https://www.avnishparker.com/logo-intro-music

Time Stamps:

00:00:45 – How do you define toxic masculinity

00:01:52 – Using the term too loosely

00:02:50 – Why do men feel like they can’t show emotions?

00:06:40 – Archetypes of masculinity and are they changing

00:07:45 – Aggression in men

00:09:00 – “Boys will be boys”

00:10:15 – Martial arts/Boxing

00:12:40 – Girls being violent at school

00:14:00 – Sports and gender at school

00:16:30 – Being called a pussy

00:17:17 – Being a breadwinner and talking about emotions

00:21:30 – Gaslighting, vulnerability and insecurities used against you

00:27:39 – Technical difficulty LOL

00:28:10 – Differences between how girl groups and boy groups support each other

00:31:30 – Banter going too far

00:32:25 – Responsibility for behaviour

00:33:05 – Self-deprecation – coping mechanism or harmful?

00:37:30 – Homophobia – using “gay” and “pussy” as an insult?

00:42:00 – The negative narrative around masculinity and its consequences

00:44:45 – A hypermasculine counterculture – Trump and Farage

00:45:45 – The corresponding decline of men’s mental health

00:47:40 – The crisis of masculine identity in the 21st century – what does it mean to be a man in the 21st century?

00:49:00 – The influence of father figures

00:51:20 – Should we be trying to change masculinity or should we leave it as it is?

00:51:40 – Responsible masculinity and archetypes

00:53:00 – Are there biological differences between men and women’s interests, or are they socially constructed?

00:53:39 – What structural and systemic barriers have women faced in getting into STEM?

00:58:45 – Scandinavian countries and gender equality

01:01:39 – How do you remedy toxic masculinity?

01:05:30 – The world of men is changing, political countercultures

01:06:40 – Toxic femininity and what is it

01:08:20 – Double standards between the genders

01:13:40 – Society is divided, let’s focus on unity

01:14:20 – Should men pay the bill at a meal?