New book highlights the complex struggles of men and boys
These include those associated with body image, fatherhood and sexual relationships. His latest book – Current Issues with Men and Boys – also argues that men struggle to negotiate harmful ideas of masculinity and are not included in conversations about gender. Current Issues Facing Men and Boys calls on the public, policymakers, practitioners and other key stakeholders to research and support policies and practices that promote well-being. This book comes as the UK government announces plans for the country's first health strategy, aimed at disproportionately solving health problems. In addition to health problems, the...
New book highlights the complex struggles of men and boys
These include those associated with body image, fatherhood and sexual relationships. His last book –Current problems with men and boys– also argues that men struggle to negotiate harmful ideas of masculinity and are not included in conversations about gender.
Current problems with men and boys Calls on the public, policymakers, practitioners and other key stakeholders to research and support policies and practices that promote well-being. This book comes as the UK government announces plans for the country's first health strategy, aimed at disproportionately solving health problems.
As well as health issues, the book examines everything from fatherhood and education to gambling addiction and homelessness, most of which are often ignored because men are seen as "the problem" rather than "problems", according to the leading academic.
Throughout the book, Professor Hine calls for an urgent shift in thinking and outlines ways to help men struggling on a range of principles. These include cultural and gender inclusivity, evidence-based approaches and early interventions, which he says will improve gender equality.
Benjamin Hine, Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of West London, a leading expert in the field, is also Chair of the Male Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society and co-founder of the Men and Boys Coalition. He believes that “in today’s rapidly changing social landscape, where the gender equality discourse has gained significant momentum, the unique challenges facing men and boys often go unnoticed or overshadowed.”
"However, it is important to approach the topic of men's issues without automatically casting men as 'the problem.' Men, like all people, are complex people with their own unique struggles, vulnerabilities and challenges."
"Moreover, the task of questioning and redefining the role of masculinity in these issues is not just an academic exercise, but a societal imperative. The health and well-being of men and boys depends on our collective ability to promote an understanding of masculinity that embraces vulnerability, values emotional competence, and celebrates diversity."
Decisive, intersectional approaches for men and boys of all backgrounds, including ethnic, religious and gender/sexual identities, should be part of the natural thinking for all organizations, including an immediate priority on mental health and the high suicide rate among men.
Professor Hine goes on to warn that how we have these conversations really matters. When young men feel “excluded or alienated” from gender-based discussions, which often focus on critical issues facing women and marginalized groupsmayLeave men angry and cause them to become lonely, alienated, depressed and preoccupied with extreme views, especially when they seek solace in toxic online spaces. Part of the problem, he argues, is that issues affecting women and those affecting men have often been strictly separated, when in fact they are closely linked.
A whistle-stop tour of men's issues supported by a wealth of empirical evidence, Professor Hine covers everything from mental health, men in the media, education, fatherhood, sexual violence, homelessness and much more, including gambling addiction, body image issues and gang violence. This includes examining how different “actors” in society influence these questions, from institutions such as the army, prison and police to individual influencers such as Andrew Tate and Harry Styles.
Sources:
Current Issues Facing Men and Boys: A Case for Urgent Change, by Benjamin A. Hine (Routledge, 2025) ISBN: Paperback: 9781032709321 | Hardback: 9781032709338 | eBook: 9781032709369 doi.org/10.4324/9781032709369.