Blokes, Wimps and Mates

Rather than being consigned to history, the masculine ideals and language of yesteryear have been making a comeback. Notions of physical and moral weakness have been associated with almost-forgotten schoolyard terminology such as ‘wimp’, or ‘goodies and baddies’. Masculinity is once more being equated with strength, resolve and decisiveness.

Why are these old-fashioned terms seeping back into the lexicon, when the notion of what it means to be a man has changed so dramatically in the past few decades? What are the current ideals of masculinity that young men are aspiring to in the media and public life?

In Jennifer Granger’s book Feminine Lost, she examines how traditional gender roles have been completely upended – and yet many have been slow to adapt to the new power dynamic. She is joined by writer and broadcaster Clementine Ford, author and commentator Benjamin Law and advertising executive turned broadcaster Ben Birchall in this exploration of the return of masculine terminology and the state of the contemporary Australian male psyche.

A good event starts great conversations. Here’s your chance to stay back a while and meet the guest speakers. Nibbles provided. Drinks at bar prices.

Men Overboard

What does it mean to be a man – or a boy – in the 21st century? How far have we come in shedding the macho expectations of the past … and to what extent do we still perform our gender roles on a daily basis? Do we still believe that boys are made of slugs and snails and puppy dogs’ tails, or that real men don’t eat quiche? This insightful series explores masculinity through talk, performance and across the generations.