Now and Men

Confronting Backlash - Aleks Dimitrijevic

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Episode notes

The backlash against gender equality, or what its advocates describe with terms such as 'gender ideology' and 'wokeism', is reaching an ever-rising crescendo in Europe and countries across the globe. It poses a major threat to the hard-won achievements of the feminist movement. But what are the forces pushing the 'anti-gender movement' – and how should we respond to it? How is it manifesting itself differently in different countries, and how are politicians exploiting it? How is it seeking to antagonise men's insecurities, whilst offering few solutions to the problems they face? And what can organisations working with boys and men, and each of us as individuals, do in this critical moment? Expert Aleks Dimitrijevic provides us with vital insights. 

Aleks is the co-founder and president of Men Against Violence in Malta, and a member of the Steering Committee of MenEngage Europe. He talks to us about how Malta was until recently the only country in the EU to completely outlaw abortion, how activists are continuing to struggle to lift the draconian restrictions against it, and the personal challenges he and his family have faced for campaigning in this area.


Episode timeline

  • Introduction
  • Gender (in)equality in Malta
  • The struggle to lift Malta’s abortion ban
  • Religious obstacles
  • Personal challenges Aleks has faced
  • What is backlash?
  • Key issues for the 'anti-gender' movement
  • Resistance to preventing violence against women
  • The weaponisation of men’s issues
  • The 'men’s rights' movement
  • Break
  • Right-wing populism and the mainstreaming of the 'anti-gender' movement
  • What people working with boys and men can do about it
  • Who is funding the backlash
  • Communicating in a language men and boys understand
  • Taking action in our everyday lives
  • Conclusion

Thank you to Dom Stichbury and Chaps Choir for our new podcast music https://www.facebook.com/ChapsChoir/

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