@Tom Golden this is such clear explainer of how easily cultural fears can be framed into public policy initiatives without reliable supporting evidence. What you set out here exposes the weakness of current UK government policy, which demonises boys and men … and nobody is scrutinising it in any serious way.
Great article Tom, I really enjoy how you unpack sources and reach out to the authors. So much of what we fight against is assumed, based on framing, based on narrative...but no empirical data when we look beneath the hood!
You have done a great job of unpacking the way in which boys and men become demonized in media and by lazy academia pushing a viewpoint rather than science. Some longitudinal data showing that there is no trend of greater violence among boys would have helped strengthen your argument.
As well as helping the article, readers could also cite it whenever this defamation gets wheeled out. I would love to gather some robust data on this from Australia where I live. I presume it's available.
Tom, has this person published anything that would give you a clue?
In the misandry series, Katherine and I dicuss "statistics abuse," of which this is one symptom. Even though he doesn't actually produce figures, after all, he implies that either academics or journalists can find them.
A good response. I can think of no group of people less qualified to assess the true status and trend in the behavior of boys than women anxious about male behavior in a gender studies departments.
This, sadly, has been happening for many decades. Books like "What is Happening to our Boys" by Maggie Hamilton and "The War Against Boys" by Christina Hoff Somers. Indicate that this has been decades in the making.
Alleged researcher Michael (Michael) Flood, under the guise of academic inquiry, produces advocacy research for the purpose of propaganda.
My search for answers began in the 1970s, and after many decades, to witness the deterioration and the increasing levels of misandry towards the male gender. How feminist advocates are using misinformation from history to stoke the anger and hostility towards men.
Justifications like "Women have been oppressed for centuries" are a valid reason for female rage.
Sadly, I do not see this ending any time soon unless a large section of society has a sudden epiphany.
Agreed, that this is how alleged "problems" with male behaviour have been reported for decades, and dominate the mainstream.
They start with an alleged, "self-evident", and oh-so-serious issue, such as "epidemic of violence against women", and put it in the headline. Then use a graphic and current crime -which may not even be real! (in Britain, the "Adolescence" series, in Australia the Higgins "rape" claim of 2021). Then report the reaction from advocates, eg. "We need to fix the underlying issue of systemic discrimination against women", then throw $$$ and legislation in a rush to be seen to be doing something. eg. Starmer's anti-misogyny lessons in schools - which all started with a Netflix drama, in Australia, ongoing gender-quotas in parliament.
Normally, there isn't even the opportunity to contest the claims of an "epidemic", because to even do so is to be a fool and a misogynist, for contesting what is both "self-evident" and proven by the "statistics", while the advocates exploit the current crisis to get funding and legislation.
Of course, the new raft of funding and legislation won't have any effect on the underlying trends, and next year there'll be a new "cisis" to stoke the cycle.
As Tom and you point out, the allegations of trends are never reported with longitudinal data. To which I would add "consistent definitions", eg. what is your definition of "violence", of "misogyny"?, and the only supporting evidence is the opinions of advocates and falsified history.
I have heard a concise summary of this approach - it's called "Reporting the reaction". Whenever I watch our Australian government funded broadcaster, the ABC (equivalent to the BBC) I can spot it quickly, and they do it all the time with feminism, climate change, immigration, Palestine, Trump.. etc. ie. all the lefty issues. They are not being dishonest, because this is what someone has said - but they are very selective in who they ask. Toss in "expert" if they are paid, like Michael Flood, by the taxpayer. It's sometimes hilarious, once you know what to look for!
It seems logical if boys are conditioned in the classroom to behave like girls that the outcomes will be unsatisfactory. And by extension, the trouble would then be preordained in the boys; not in the problems created by ideological classroom conditioning.
It's far more complex than that. Being taught by almost all females, using female methods, etc. I've even read peer-reviewed papers proving that boys get marked down over female students. It's so very deeply entrenched, it's shocking.
I am aware of those points. In my humble opinion, matters will improve when men and boys reclaim time for exclusive all-male, self-policing spaces for themselves. This is what they/we have done through time memorable. Women should allow this. Better still, they should encourage it for their own ultimate benefit.
1) Make a 'strategic' assertion without data, repeat it often enough throughout high-profile feminist networks. This acts as a skyhook, putting BS into orbit. The amount of effort to take down the BS is 10x that of creating the BS. And, by that time, society is already swamped in fresh, new BS from a different angle.
I believe the data show that men and boys have become less violent over the past few decades while women and girls have become more violent. The worrying trend is actually a rise in female violence.
Women and girls are also becoming less and less likely to be the victims of violence.
It's one thing for feminists to spout lies and rely on feelings, but another for politicians and academics to do so.
@Tom Golden this is such clear explainer of how easily cultural fears can be framed into public policy initiatives without reliable supporting evidence. What you set out here exposes the weakness of current UK government policy, which demonises boys and men … and nobody is scrutinising it in any serious way.
Thanks Nick!
Great piece Tom, I am doing something I rarely do - which is to restack - as this is such an important issue.
Thanks Sheila!
Great article Tom, I really enjoy how you unpack sources and reach out to the authors. So much of what we fight against is assumed, based on framing, based on narrative...but no empirical data when we look beneath the hood!
Exactly, it is built to persuade without evidence.
A Gender Studies professor? Now that's rich. People pay for this?
No... "People" don't pay for this. YOU AND I DO!
You have done a great job of unpacking the way in which boys and men become demonized in media and by lazy academia pushing a viewpoint rather than science. Some longitudinal data showing that there is no trend of greater violence among boys would have helped strengthen your argument.
You are correct. It would have been a good inclusion.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/10833811_Developmental_Trajectories_of_Childhood_Disruptive_Behaviors_and_Adolescent_Delinquency_A_Six-Site_Cross-National_Study
As well as helping the article, readers could also cite it whenever this defamation gets wheeled out. I would love to gather some robust data on this from Australia where I live. I presume it's available.
Sounds like a false moral disengagement narrative to me.
Now, where have I seen this before? 🤔
Domestic Abuse industry, anyone?
Yes, this is exactly what the post claims, that this is not a one off, it is just one among many, including DV and others.
Tom, has this person published anything that would give you a clue?
In the misandry series, Katherine and I dicuss "statistics abuse," of which this is one symptom. Even though he doesn't actually produce figures, after all, he implies that either academics or journalists can find them.
Indeed. You can see what he has published here:
https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/850720-troy-potter
Oh my!
Bloody hell. Another Australian. This really is a cesspit of misandry.
Another episode of the war on boys. PS aggressivity is a trait, it's good or bad depending upon how it's used
i imagine this is just more anti male feminist misandry.
A good response. I can think of no group of people less qualified to assess the true status and trend in the behavior of boys than women anxious about male behavior in a gender studies departments.
This, sadly, has been happening for many decades. Books like "What is Happening to our Boys" by Maggie Hamilton and "The War Against Boys" by Christina Hoff Somers. Indicate that this has been decades in the making.
Alleged researcher Michael (Michael) Flood, under the guise of academic inquiry, produces advocacy research for the purpose of propaganda.
See A flood of Garbage
https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050614072305/http://www.kittennews.com/kn_mag/2004mag/02_feb04mag/jamesh_09.htm
My search for answers began in the 1970s, and after many decades, to witness the deterioration and the increasing levels of misandry towards the male gender. How feminist advocates are using misinformation from history to stoke the anger and hostility towards men.
Justifications like "Women have been oppressed for centuries" are a valid reason for female rage.
Sadly, I do not see this ending any time soon unless a large section of society has a sudden epiphany.
Also see A Flood of Sophistry. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050614071217/http://www.kittennews.com/cgi-bin/kn_opinion/opinion.pl?topic=999906
Asl
Agreed, that this is how alleged "problems" with male behaviour have been reported for decades, and dominate the mainstream.
They start with an alleged, "self-evident", and oh-so-serious issue, such as "epidemic of violence against women", and put it in the headline. Then use a graphic and current crime -which may not even be real! (in Britain, the "Adolescence" series, in Australia the Higgins "rape" claim of 2021). Then report the reaction from advocates, eg. "We need to fix the underlying issue of systemic discrimination against women", then throw $$$ and legislation in a rush to be seen to be doing something. eg. Starmer's anti-misogyny lessons in schools - which all started with a Netflix drama, in Australia, ongoing gender-quotas in parliament.
Normally, there isn't even the opportunity to contest the claims of an "epidemic", because to even do so is to be a fool and a misogynist, for contesting what is both "self-evident" and proven by the "statistics", while the advocates exploit the current crisis to get funding and legislation.
Of course, the new raft of funding and legislation won't have any effect on the underlying trends, and next year there'll be a new "cisis" to stoke the cycle.
As Tom and you point out, the allegations of trends are never reported with longitudinal data. To which I would add "consistent definitions", eg. what is your definition of "violence", of "misogyny"?, and the only supporting evidence is the opinions of advocates and falsified history.
I have heard a concise summary of this approach - it's called "Reporting the reaction". Whenever I watch our Australian government funded broadcaster, the ABC (equivalent to the BBC) I can spot it quickly, and they do it all the time with feminism, climate change, immigration, Palestine, Trump.. etc. ie. all the lefty issues. They are not being dishonest, because this is what someone has said - but they are very selective in who they ask. Toss in "expert" if they are paid, like Michael Flood, by the taxpayer. It's sometimes hilarious, once you know what to look for!
It seems logical if boys are conditioned in the classroom to behave like girls that the outcomes will be unsatisfactory. And by extension, the trouble would then be preordained in the boys; not in the problems created by ideological classroom conditioning.
It's far more complex than that. Being taught by almost all females, using female methods, etc. I've even read peer-reviewed papers proving that boys get marked down over female students. It's so very deeply entrenched, it's shocking.
I am aware of those points. In my humble opinion, matters will improve when men and boys reclaim time for exclusive all-male, self-policing spaces for themselves. This is what they/we have done through time memorable. Women should allow this. Better still, they should encourage it for their own ultimate benefit.
This is certainly what we need to do as men. Reclaim our space.
The MO of the feminist, male or female.
1) Make a 'strategic' assertion without data, repeat it often enough throughout high-profile feminist networks. This acts as a skyhook, putting BS into orbit. The amount of effort to take down the BS is 10x that of creating the BS. And, by that time, society is already swamped in fresh, new BS from a different angle.
https://blog.uehiro.ox.ac.uk/2016/02/the-unbearable-asymmetry-of-bullshit/
2) The most successful 'strategic theories' are strangers to truth.
https://toxicfeminism.blog/2021/10/16/kelly-oliver/
Good work Tom. Asking for evidence from ideologues of whatever stripe usually pulls them up short.
YES. Great points, Tom. This is what "following the science" REALLY LOOKS LIKE.
I believe the data show that men and boys have become less violent over the past few decades while women and girls have become more violent. The worrying trend is actually a rise in female violence.
Women and girls are also becoming less and less likely to be the victims of violence.
It's one thing for feminists to spout lies and rely on feelings, but another for politicians and academics to do so.