Latest news with #KICPOD
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Australian podcaster's viral clip sparks discussion about traditional gender norms
An Australian podcaster's desire for a partner who does not "complain" after work and instead offers "peace and love" to support his ambitions has sparked discussions about the resurgence of traditional gender norms. The viral clip from The Pocket with Chris Griffin, which has amassed more than 1.4 million views and attracted thousands of comments, shows the host saying he would not want his partner "working unless she wants to work" because he does not want to come home to "complaining". Instead, he says, he wants his partner's eyes to "light up with excitement" and he encourages "hot girl walks" so his partner can cultivate "feminine energy". "It's the peace and love that a man that's got a busy life [and] that's chasing his dreams needs when he's trying to wind down," he added. Experts say Griffin's view reflects a growing trend among young men to return to traditional gender norms. But, speaking to the ABC, Griffin suggested people who were rejecting these norms were going "against their biology". His views have sparked a backlash from viewers online. Among the critics is Kic CEO Laura Henshaw, who has addressed the clip on her social media accounts and the KICPOD podcast. Ms Henshaw told the ABC she was particularly concerned about how the video was packaged in an aspirational way, as if it was "a caring and loving message when it's actually not at all". She argued that the crescendo-building piano soundtrack, motivational framing and polished studio setting and editing masked harmful content. Some experts describe this kind of framing as "benevolent sexism". Social psychologists have defined benevolent sexism as attitudes toward women that appear positive or well-meaning on the surface but ultimately suggest that women are inferior to men, often by portraying them as fragile, less competent, or in need of protection. Deakin University psychology lecturer Beatrice Alba says benevolent sexism can take many forms, including: "Benevolent sexism is kind of like old-fashioned chivalry," Dr Alba told the ABC. "It's this belief that women and men are inherently different by nature — that women are softer and more emotional, more suited to nurturing roles, and that men are stronger and should protect and provide for women." The viral clip appears to echo this dynamic by casting men as providers who keep the finances "sorted", while women are expected to be emotional caretakers, offering "peace and love" to support her partner's ambitions. "Imagine wanting to work so hard so you can give your partner safety and freedom of choice, just to be labelled toxic and misogynistic. I don't agree," Griffin said in a response posted online. Speaking to the ABC, he rejected the idea that traditional gender norms were inherently unequal. "The problem lies with societal norms suggesting [traditional gender roles are] toxic, which creates confusion, resulting in people feeling the need to go against their biology," he said. He argued moving away from traditional gender roles was often praised as "progressive" but the label was misleading because there was "no substance behind that label to suggest it is actually beneficial for society". Research suggests that women exposed to benevolent sexism allow men to tell them what they can and cannot do, feel less competent, and increasingly accept hostile sexism. Dr Alba said benevolent sexism could be difficult to spot because it sounded "superficially positive … like men being generous towards women in wanting to care for them and to provide for them". Evita March, an associate professor at Federation University, agreed, saying benevolent sexism sought to foster dependence under the guise of support. "Viewing women in that benevolent way still reduces them to being objectified because they're perceived as unable to be this individual who takes care of themselves," Dr March said. In an Instagram comment directed at Laura Henshaw, Griffin defended his stance and said: "This isn't about control. It's about choice. If she wants to chase a career, I'll back her 100%. If she wants to stay home, I'll support that too. That's what freedom in a relationship should look like." Dr Alba said this applied a standard to women that was not typically applied to men. "Like why not just flip it around and say to this guy, well why don't you quit your job and stay at home and be happy?" "There's something inherently condescending about thinking that a woman is somehow less suited to [work] than a man … Don't you think I'm capable of being someone who has a challenging job and, just like you, when I come home from work, I want to debrief about the challenges I had?" she added. Though his video has faced a backlash online, Griffin's words echo a broader sentiment among young men. Research from the e61 Institute found that gen Z men were more likely to hold traditional gender beliefs than older men. On average, men aged 15-24 had a greater belief in traditional gender norms than men aged 25-34 and 35-44. At the same time, women of the same age are far less traditional, creating a noticeable divergence between young men and women. According to Dr March, the shift can be partly explained by disenfranchisement and a growing sense of confusion among young men about what it means to be a man. This uncertainty is driving many men to seek out the manosphere — a sprawling network of online men's communities that often blur the line between self-help and sexism. Griffin argued traditional masculine traits were being unfairly vilified. "Strength is called toxic, leadership is seen as oppressive, masculinity itself is treated like a problem to be fixed rather than a virtue to be honed," he told the ABC. A report by Movember found that young men who regularly engaged with content from masculinity influencers reported feeling far more positive than negative emotional outcomes. Forty-three per cent said the content made them feel motivated, while 44 per cent reported a stronger sense of purpose. But alongside these emotional benefits, the report revealed a troubling pattern in attitudes towards women: She also warned that the manosphere placed heavy and damaging expectations on men themselves. "What I really want to emphasise is that this manospherish rhetoric, including the idea that men must always be providers and supporters, puts enormous pressure on men," Dr March said. "When you talk about these potential negative aspects of the manosphere, some men are really reluctant to come to the party and admit that because they say, 'Well, no. It's really helped me.'" These conversations about the resurgence of traditional gender norms hit home for Ms Henshaw. She recalled how her mother took extended time off work to raise her and her sisters. After her parents separated, her mother faced the challenge of rebuilding her financial independence. "We have a fridge magnet that says, 'A man is not a financial plan,'" Ms Henshaw said. She said she was grateful to have grown up with that understanding because "there's no way I would be where I am now without it". Today, Ms Henshaw is the CEO of hugely successful business empire Kic and she has recently used her platform to raise awareness of how women can be at risk of financial abuse and vulnerability. "I just think if you haven't experienced it or seen it with someone within your life … how would you know that that could happen?" she said. Her family's experience is not an outlier. A KPMG report on the superannuation gap found that women aged 55-59 had, on average, 33 per cent less superannuation than men, while women aged 60-64 had 28 per cent less. Dr March explained that much of this gap was due to the time women took off work for caring responsibilities, a sacrifice that significantly reduced their superannuation. "Because they had a man who controlled the finances, they didn't have a career, they left the workforce," she said. "And so this very cohort of women who had men who were promising to take care of them are now left in our largest growing homeless cohort that we see in Australia."
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pregnant Steph Claire Smith packs her hospital bag as she prepares to give birth to her second child
Steph Claire Smith is just days away from giving birth to her second child with husband Josh Miller. The influencer, 31, who shares son Harvey, four, with her partner, took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal how she is preparing to welcome the new addition. Sharing images to her Stories, the KICPOD co-host could be seen packing a bag to take to the hospital with her in preparation for her bundle of joy. In the photo, Steph packed nappies into a suitcase already filled with various baby items, such as clothes, dummies, a soft blanket, and swaddling cloths. Steph also uploaded a picture of a sweet note she received from her team at KICPOD. The message included several glamorous shots of Steph flaunting her pregnant belly, with the words: 'A little KIC chick is about to hatch... Congratulations Steph!' The envelope was inscribed with, 'Good luck, Steph,' above a love heart. It comes after Steph and her husband Josh used the Spinning Babies method to prepare for the birth of their second child. The pregnant fitness influencer filmed her husband holding up their mattress while watching an instructional tutorial for one of the recommended exercises. In videos uploaded to her Stories last month, Steph could be heard laughing while Josh held up the bottom end of the mattress to keep her aloft on an angle. Steph flaunted her baby bump, which she cradled with one arm while holding her iPhone up with the other, and chuckled as she documented the humorous moment. 'Do you have to stay there?' she asks Josh and he turns his eyes to the video. 'I do have to stay here,' he deadpans, making her laugh harder at the idea of lying on a diagonal angle. In the second video, she could be seen relaxing on the up-turned mattress, as she practised one of the body balancing exercises for pregnancy and labour. 'Trying the Spinning Babies moves. Josh is holding up the bed like a champ for one of them,' the influencer captioned the video. Spinning Babies is an approach 'to optimise the physical relationship between the bodies of the mother and baby for pregnancy comfort and easier childbirth,' per the website that offers 'Parent Class' videos. It was devised by American midwife Gai Tully, who describes it as 'practical birth preparation and baby positioning to fit the pelvis and reduce pain in childbirth'. 'During birth, babies descend through the pelvis by turning to fit each curve in the passage,' the Spinning Babies website explains. 'Baby's turns are 'fetal rotation.' If fetal rotation can be made easier, birth is easier for everyone. If practiced daily, an easier labor and birth are likely.'
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Bogan' act that Aussies can't agree on
A fierce debate has been sparked after one of the women behind a successful wellness brand asked whether wearing one particular item in public was acceptable. Podcast co-hosts Laura Henshaw and Steph Claire Smith were speaking about things that their KICPOD listeners hated, but everyone else around them seemed to love. On the list were matcha, cheese and coffee. Crocs were also on the list, and it reminded Ms Henshaw about a trend she noticed while in New York City for the NYC Marathon. 'There's something else I've started wearing, in New York, that I feel like in Australia you actually feel like you can't wear out of the house. Ugg boots,' she said. Ms Smith said she was shocked, admitting she thought it was common in Australia to do so. Ms Henshaw said that the perception in Australia was that it was 'bogan' to wear Uggs outside, while in New York they were seen as 'chic'. The popular influencer added that she bought a specific pair of Ugg Boots that she'd seen a lot of women wearing in New York, and when she wore the shoes to her chiropractor he asked why she was wearing them. 'And he's very stylish,' the 32-year-old health and wellness star said. Her co-founder added: 'I feel like they're in, and he's behind.' Ms Smith said the fashion had gone from Birkenstocks, to clogs, and now to slide on Uggs — and it would be a huge trend this winter. The clip has sparked fierce debate, with many declaring it's fine to wear them – but there were certain caveats. 'I feel like you can only wear them to the supermarket late at night. That's where I see them most,' one commented. Another said: 'Haha this is funny. Literally wore my cropped ones to work the other day.' 'I wear mine everywhere! With active wear to pilates, with jeans to the footy, trackies to the supermarket. No shame here,' one declared. Another weighed in: 'Super common in Perth … or maybe we all just like to walk in our pjs. 'I personally have three pairs and I walk in them everyday. Hubby walks with them to site as a tradie before changing to his work boots.' 'Nooo! CHIC! With a pair of wide leg slouchy pants over = 10/10,' one said. Another social media user added: 'All the pilates princesses wear them and have been for a long time lol.' 'All the girls in Europe wear them I just went there for winter! 100 per cent will be wearing here,' another added. One commented: 'I mean, people go barefoot (don't get my started) in shopping centres here … Uggs are fine.' 'It's like day drinking, When poor people do it it's bogan but when rich people do it it's chic,' another said. One listener added: 'As long as your outdoor uggs are different to your indoor uggs it's okay.' 'I think the full boots are bogan but those low ones with red pattern could be Australian chic,' one social media user said. Many people in the comment section insisted that Australians buy Uggs that are made in Australia, after Australian brand UGG Since 1974 revealed it was forced to change its name in the US over a trademark lawsuit.
