I know ‘men and boys advocacy’ can feel like a dirty word. I know it can feel wrong, or as something to be apologised for. I know it can feel necessary to carefully lay out a litany of small-print disclaimers, caveats, and kind words for women and girls, before you say something about men and boys. To feel like you need to explain yourself, with a list of credentials and accolades, if you are to enter this treacherous space. But I don’t see it this way. That is because – There is nothing inherently wrong about caring about men and boys, and far from it. There is nothing taboo, or shameful, or misogynistic; and the more we treat it as such, the more we create a dangerous precedent, and a self-fulfilling prophecy that it is. The more we apologise, the more we reinforce the idea that we should apologise. The more we whisper these words, the more we insist that these words should be whispered. And the more you say “I’m not a misogynist”, the more you plant the seed that you are. So let’s stop doing it. And instead, let’s allow people to judge who we are by our actions, rather than by snivelling self flagellation, clumsy disclaimers, and endless penance-paying. So why do we always feel the need to offer these apologies? And to whom are we making these concessions? ~ Discussing with Sam from @lonelychapterpodcast Full podcast https://tinyurl.com/3sxd68ma

2026-04-09