'Community groups can provide solution to toxic masculinity'

BBC News

22-03-2025

Community group leaders have urged others to help them show up for young men in response to the Netflix drama Adolescence and Gareth Southgate's Dimbleby lecture.The TV show and the former England manager's speech have sparked discussions about toxic masculinity and misogynistic content shared online.Community organisations in Bristol and Somerset feel that exposing boys to positive role models and positive experiences can tackle the growing issues. "The situation is complex", said Martin Bisp, CEO and co-founder of Empire Fighting Chance, a charity born on Bristol's streets in 2006.
"One of the problems we see is that young people don't talk to each other anymore and instead they turn to online."But they actually want to talk and they want to express themselves."Young males might be angry or need somewhere to go, they could be living in chaotic households or they may be getting bullied, and they need an outlet."Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol about the growing popularity of misogynistic influencers, Mr Bisp said good role models are important."We can't keep putting it on schools, asking teachers to do more for less. As a society it's all our responsibility," he said. "We all need to step up and play our part."He said youth services are an "extraordinarily important" part of the solution. "Have a look at what's available and if you think you can add value and you can commit, get involved and volunteer," he added.
'I never had male role models'
Matt Lawrence, a 20-year-old boxer and coach, has seen first-hand the difference clubs like his can make.He joined Empire Fighting Chance when he was 14 and said at the time he was experiencing social anxiety and bullying in school."I was bullied quite badly," he said."The reason I started boxing was because I wanted to feel respected. "I felt that when people looked at me they saw nothing. I didn't feel like I mattered."
"I didn't have male role models growing up. I never knew my dad," he said."I had a challenging upbringing, I was on my own a lot of the time."He said boxing gave him self-belief, something he tries to instil in the children that he coaches."I didn't realise it at the time, how much of an impact coaches had on my life," he said."The support and belief they gave me to push myself shaped the way I see myself."When I joined Empire, my first coach was actually a woman. "I have positive male role models now, and I think it's important having both men and women you can look up to."
'It's not just about football anymore'
Another youth club hoping to make a difference is Rhode Lane Wanderers football team based in Bridgwater, run by manager and coach Sam Smith."It's not just about teaching football anymore, it's so much more," he said."It's about teaching respect, resilience, helping each other and being part of a community."
Mr Smith hopes Adolescence will be an eye-opener for parents."I think phone use is an addiction," he said."I've seen people say that access should be restricted but it's just as much about raising awareness of this, and I think Adolescence is going to help."It will help parents realise the dangers of being online, sometimes they're not obvious."