Society is obsessed with masculinity, and constantly discussing how it's 'in crisis'. But how helpful are these debates? Can masculinity be reshaped as 'positive' or 'healthy' - and should that be our focus? In a challenging new paper – 'Positive humanity, when? Is masculinity worth saving?' – Dr Finn Mackay argues that policy aimed at saving men and alleviating their suffering does not address men's humanity, but is erroneously focused on 'saving' masculinity. Instead, Finn believes we should aspire to be positive, healthy people and equal human beings, without needing to have our identities as men reinforced. Rather than recycling tired biological essentialism, Finn concludes "it is time for men and women to start acting like we really believe we are not separate spheres, but on the same planet, with the same needs for love and care, the same need to matter to our communities, the same need for life". Finn advocates for a radical feminist analysis, arguing that it offers positive solutions to the problems all of us face - including men and boys.

The episode discusses Finn's 2021 book 'Female Masculinities and the Gender Wars: The Politics of Sex'. Based on research they conducted on lesbian and queer masculinities in the UK, they explore the challenges and obstacles facing those who do not fit into strict boxes of sex and gender. This is particularly topical given the recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer only to "biological women" and "biological sex". Decrying the widespread scapegoating and demonising of trans people, Finn argues they have become easy targets for regressive gender conservatism. 

Finn ends by talking movingly about their personal journey from growing up in rural Scotland, to living at women's peace camps outside military bases, and the impact that feminism – especially radical feminism – has had on their life.

Finn is a senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of the West of England, and they have a long history of feminist research and activism. Prior to academia, Finn was involved in education and youth work on issues including domestic violence prevention and anti-bullying. In 2004, they founded the London Feminist Network, and revived the tradition of London Reclaim the Night. Their previous book 'Radical Feminism: Feminist Activism in Movement' (2015) set out a pioneering feminist manifesto analysing the reasons for women’s oppression and what feminist activism must do to counter it.

• Finn's personal website: https://www.drfinnmackay.co.uk
• UWE profile: https://people.uwe.ac.uk/Person/FinnMackay
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/finnfox.bsky.social
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finn-mackay-87a593345/
• ‘Positive humanity, when?’ paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2025.2502679
• ‘Radical Feminism’ book: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137363589
• ‘Female Masculinities’ book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/female-masculinities-and-the-gender-wars-9781350466623/

Episode timeline

• Intro
• Current debates about masculinity (02:02-03:56)
• Is 'positive masculinity' the answer? (03:56-06:12)
• Why masculinity is crisis (06:12-08:59)
• Reinforcing gender dualisms through segregation (08:59-13:12)
• Boys starting school later (13:12-15:48)
• The allure of patriarchal norms in times of crisis (15:48-18:46)
• Why radical feminism offers hope to boys and men (18:46-22:45)
• What men can do to support radical feminism (22:45-25:40)
• Break
• How to define radical feminism and essentialism (25:56-33:21)
• Finn's research on lesbian and queer masculinities (33:21-37:09)
• Simultaneously identifying with and critiquing masculinity (37:09-41:57)
• The UK supreme court decision on 'biological women' (41:57-45:50)
• Trans panic and the gender equality backlash (45:50-49:49)
• Reconciling the divides over trans rights (49:49-55:55)
• Finn's personal feminist journey (55:55-01:02:20)
• Conclusion [Learning from radical feminism; How can men deal feminist divisions?; Patriarchy is the problem; Continuity and crisis; Men who supported the peace camps; Dismantling essentialism] (01:02:28-01:08:00)

More info

• John Stoltenberg: https://johnstoltenberg.medium.com/
• UK Dads' Strike: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/jun/11/dad-strikes-in-london-and-edinburgh-demand-better-paternity-leave
• Susan Brownmiller obituary: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jun/03/susan-brownmiller-obituary
• UK Supreme Court ruling: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/16/critics-of-trans-rights-win-uk-supreme-court-case-over-definition-of-woman
• 'What does the UK Supreme Court’s gender ruling mean for trans men?': https://theconversation.com/what-does-the-uk-supreme-courts-gender-ruling-mean-for-trans-men-254868
• Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenham_Common_Women%27s_Peace_Camp
• 'The origins and history of Reclaim the Night': https://mancunion.com/2022/03/20/the-origins-and-history-of-reclaim-the-night/