37 Things you need to know about modern Britain, Thing #9: How to be a man

Scarcely a week passes these days without men’s behaviour being publicly scrutinized and challenged. They are blamed for sexism, bullying, emotional stunted-ness and even global economic crises, and told they abuse their position of social privilege.
Yet research shows Britain’s males to be increasingly insecure about their roles, anxious about traditionally female concerns such as body image, self-esteem and parenthood. Encouraged to become more “feminine” yet also remain “manly”, they wonder what acceptable masculinity is in 2014: How do you respond when all your mates want to go to a lap dancing club, but you can’t stand the idea? Are you obliged to pretend you enjoy the romcoms you feel obliged to watch with your partner? Do men really not talk about “emotions”, or do they just talk about different ones to women? And what does all this mean for the women who live alongside men?

 This talk will examine all these questions and more as we consider what the changing roles of men means for both genders in 21st century Britain. Speakers: Mark Simpson, author and journalist who coined the term metrosexual; psychotherapist John Mckeown, co-author, with Paul Gascoigne, of Being Gazza; bestselling author and former editor of The Face Richard Benson. Chaired by cultural commentator Ekow Eshun.

37 Things You Need To Know About Modern Britain is a partnership between BUG and The House of St Barnabas, forged from a mutual desire to affect positive social change by asking provocative, open-ended questions about life as we live it today. Talks take place at The House of St Barnabas, a Charity and a not-for-profit members’ club, a historic building in theheart of Soho, with an integrated Employment Academy, training those affected by homelessness into the hospitality sector. /

Bug is group of writers and business thinkers, who investigate pop culture through writing, talks and reports. www.buglondon.co.uk