Welcome to ‘Breaking Up’ - a podcast about break-ups, love, and pop culture. I’m your host, Isabella Shields and this week I’m joined by the artist Eden Dodd (@edengrantdodd)to discuss toxic and fragile masculinity and how that reverberates in relationships.
We answer questions about:
- A bisexual boyfriend who keeps making misogynistic and homophobic jokes
- How to feel and communicate loneliness and difficult feelings as a man without seeming like an incel
- Whether or not it's a red flag that his favourite film is Fight Club.
CONTENT WARNING: Mental health conditions/Suicide/Incels/Violence
Today’s show centres on toxic masculinity and incels. I and every guest I’ve had on the podcast condemn the mentality and behaviour of incels and we have from very early on in production. Nothing in this episode is intended to excuse or make reasonable the violent actions of hate-filled men. We discuss misogyny, suicide, and mental health problems so if these discussions might upset you in any way I would give this episode a miss. My condolences to all the families and people affected by violence committed by male perpetrators, and to those affected by the horrific attack committed by incel Jake Davidson in Plymouth, which took the lives of six people. This episode was recorded a month ago and I hadn’t anticipated that the context for its release would be so upsetting.
Eden and I hope that this episode is respectful and that it’s obvious that we are criticising and denouncing the cultural conditions that lead people to these groups and communities.
Eden’s work centres on the redetermination of masculinity & Welsh identity, mental health and catharsis from trauma, escapism and mythology and that’s why we’re talking all about fragile and toxic masculinity.
If you'd like to send in an agony aunt questions, any recommendations, or any sponsorship offers, please contact [email protected] or you can follow us @breakinguppodcast and can dm us questions there.