Tech Talk: How influencers and algorithms are shaping perspectives on masculinity with Dr. Catherine Baker

Welcome back to the Sporting Change Podcast! 

Back in October of last year, we were invited to attend the very first “Undoing Masculinity Summit”, which was held in Calgary. The Summit was an international gathering dedicated to reimagining what it means to be a man in today’s world. It brought together scholars, activists, and practitioners from across the globe to address critical conversations around masculinity, focusing on how it can evolve to support gender equity, mental health, and violence prevention.

We are so excited to release a 2 episode miniseries, called Undoing Masculinity, that will welcome 2 amazing researchers from the summit, and will touch on two very important topics that truly affect today's society. 

In today’s part 1, we will explore the influence of misogynist influencers who shape modern masculine ideals. These influencers— who often disguise themselves as motivational figures—present a polished, or fake, version of masculinity, showcasing wealth, womanizing, power, and sculpted bodies as the pinnacle of manhood. With millions of followers, which kind of gives them a false sense of credibility to the eyes of young people, and also algorithms that amplify their content, they have unfortunately become key players in shaping how both young men and women view masculinity.

We’re excited to be joined by Dr. Catherine Baker, a postdoctoral researcher with the Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities at Dublin City University. She brings a wealth of knowledge on the ways digital spaces shape and reinforce harmful masculine ideals and the impact this has on young audiences. Today, she’ll share her insights on how these online spaces can be navigated safely, and what steps we can take to combat the rise of toxic masculinity in the digital age. 

We hope you enjoy the show.

For extra information, please follow this link! 

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