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ABC News
23-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
The digital re-domestication of femininity: What's behind the viral rise of regressive gender ideals? - ABC Religion & Ethics
A viral clip from The Pocket podcast recently thrust Aussie host Chris Griffin into the spotlight after he argued that if his partner doesn't need to work, she should stay home to maintain her 'feminine energy' and create a peaceful environment for his return. Activities like 'hot girl walks', he suggested, were preferable to the stresses of paid employment. Griffin framed his views as supportive and relational, but they amounted to a thinly veiled endorsement of traditional gender roles, where a woman's value is measured by how well she nurtures others, not by her ambitions. These views were given further attention after being publicly challenged by Laura Henshaw, the co-founder and CEO of the health and fitness app Kic, who argued it is 'dangerous' to romanticise a time when women had little financial autonomy and were structurally excluded from decision-making. Henshaw's response, in turn, sparked a wider public debate about the rebranding of traditional gender ideology circulating in digital spaces. A recent 30-country study from King's College London sheds light on the broader context that envelopes this debate. Their analysis found that among Gen Z — those young adults bon between 1995 and 2009 — men and women are more sharply divided on gender issues than any previous generation surveyed. Nearly a quarter of Gen Z men (23 per cent) believe a man who stays home to care for his children is 'less of a man', more than double the number of women (9 per cent) who agree. And 57 per cent of Gen Z men say too much is being asked of them to support gender equality, compared to 36 per cent of Gen Z women. These are the largest gaps across any age group, suggesting gender divides are not closing, but widening. Such findings run against the grain of the prevailing notion of the young as the most progressive force in a society. Re-naturalising gender hierarchies Griffin's views, and the traction they gained, are not just about relationships. They reflect and need to be situated in broader ideological change — and what is now unmistakably an active project seeking to re-naturalise gender hierarchies by cloaking them in the language of wellness, emotional harmony and romantic success. Figures like Griffin, and more prominently global 'manfluencers' such as Andrew Tate, present fixed gender roles not as constraints but as aspirational paths to happiness. This is the digital re-domestication of femininity. Social media platforms are saturated with content glamorising the stay-at-home girlfriend, the 'soft life', and the high-value man who earns while his partner remains decorative and emotionally available. These roles are often framed as empowering choices, yet the subtext implies that women's economic independence disrupts harmony and perpetuates risks of loneliness — for men and women. Such narratives exert a powerful form of cultural discipline, especially on young women. They revive an ideal where a woman's worth is tethered to her usefulness to men's emotional needs. For those who might have other ambitions, or be otherwise independent, or queer, or neurodivergent, or child-free, the message is clear: 'soften' or be alone. There is a visible rejection of this message, with a growing number of women creating and sharing viral memes, reels and commentary celebrating life without men and rejecting the idea that romantic partnership is a prerequisite for fulfilment. Nonetheless, the reach of these viral regressive gender ideals isn't confined to social media. In classrooms, educators report more students echoing the rhetoric of 'alpha' masculinity, challenging women's authority, rolling their eyes at consent education, dismissing feminism as 'man-hating' and, worse, an alarming rise in sexual harassment and denigration. Research in Australia and in the UK shows that these aren't fringe beliefs, but instead are shaping how masculinity is being learned and performed by a significant minority of boys. The broader cultural struggle This makes the task of critique more urgent. It's not enough to dismiss these views as sexist or outdated. We need to ask what makes them appealing . In a world of economic precarity, social atomisation and relational confusion, the fantasy of clearly defined roles can seem comforting. For some men, a script of provision and authority provides clarity. For some women, 'opting out' of work might feel like relief from burnout — though often only available to the privileged, and even then, coming with financial risks, as per the large gender gap in Australian superannuation. We need alternative rhetorics. We need compelling public stories about intimacy, desire and partnership that don't re-inscribe inequality. We need models of relational ethics rooted in mutuality, flexibility and dignity. The views Griffin espoused on his podcast reflect a broader cultural struggle over who gets to define what's natural, desirable or respectable in relationships. We must remain alert to how quickly old gender hierarchies are being rebranded as personal truths, and commit to building relationships and communities that reflect the equity we say we value. Professor Steven Roberts is Head of School of Education, Culture and Society at Monash University.
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."
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Laura Henshaw calls out podcast host for segment on women in the workforce
A health and wellness podcast host has been publicly called out over his 'misogynistic' take on women and what a woman's stance should be when it comes to working. Chris Griffin, who hosts The Pocket with Chris Griffin – an educational podcast which platforms 'conversations about life' – said he doesn't want his partner to work 'if she doesn't want to'. 'If you feel the need to go and work to make money and then you come home and you're complaining about your day — when we don't need you to make money because you're sorted,' he began. 'If we've got four hours to spend in the afternoon and I ask you 'how was your day today, babe' I want your eyes to light up in excitement about whatever the f*** it was.' His co-host, Wade Papenfus, agreed, saying it was all about the 'energy' the partner was bringing back into the home. Mr Griffin added that a man with a busy life needs 'calm, harmony, peace and love' when trying to wind down. 'This is why I heavily encourage hot girl walks. I would love my partner to go on a hot girl walk with her friends every day. She gets this feminine energy, they get to talk their sh*t and they get to have a bit of excitement about their day,' he said. 'I don't think a girl needs to go through challenge, pain and hardship to be an amazing girl. I think she can fill her days with passion-filled things and still be amazing.' A clip of the podcast was shared to social media two weeks ago, but it was Kic co-founder Laura Henshaw calling out Mr Griffin's assertions that led to the clip going viral. Henshaw, 32, shared a snippet of the clip and said women don't exist to 'serve their partners. To live our days so we can be in a 'good mood' for them'. She said women should feel empowered to be financially independent, establish a career and build up superannuation for retirement. The fitness and wellness influencer said there was no judgement for women who didn't want to work but they needed to be empowered with all the information to make that decision. She shared screenshots from followers who revealed they stopped working once they had children, and their partners encouraged them not to go back to work. But, once the relationship broke down they were now stuck on minimum wage. Others said their job was the only reason they could leave abusive relationships. 'It's honestly dangerous,' one said. Henshaw told the video struck such a chord with her because of the dangerous messaging. 'It is just such a dangerous message, and sends such a terrifying message to the younger generation who are influenced by this type of content,' she said. 'Social media can be a really great place but there is also a dark side where content like this that is misogynistic and implies that women should 'serve' men is prevalent and running rife within the algorithm of young men and teenage boys.' The media personality said since speaking out she's had a lot of commentary from single mothers or women who have experienced financial abuse and 'wished they had been empowered with the tools to understand what their choices meant and to have understood the types of behaviours to look out for'. 'This is why it is so important we continue the conversation and call out this type of content,' she said. Henshaw wasn't the only one who called out Mr Griffin. Tarang Chawla, whose sister Nikita was murdered by her partner when she was just 23 in 2015 and is an activist against men's violence, said: 'I work in this area you're talking about and it's something I know a bit about and care about deeply. I'd love to sit down on your podcast to talk about it. 'I think we'll agree on a lot and disagree on some things but your audience will probably get something valuable out of it.' Former reality star Tully Smyth said: 'Oh goodness. This ain't it my dude.' Content creator and chronic illness advocate Jordan Darian Lambropoulos said: 'Should've finished this one with 'Blessed be the fruit', boys.' Meanwhile another said, 'Wowweee. First, the video. Them boldly doubling down with zero self awareness. Very concerning stuff.' When reached out to Mr Griffin for comment regarding the backlash to his comments, he issued an invitation. 'Rather than going back and forth online, I'd love to invite Laura onto my podcast for an open and honest convo. If she's up for it, so am I,' he said. He also addressed Henshaw in the comment section of the podcast's video and said he 'understands' her point of view, but insisted the key phrase in his clip was 'unless she wants to'. '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,' he said. 'I also don't measure a woman's worth by income. I see her value in things far more significant than a dollar figure. 'You mentioned financial abuse, and I agree, it's real. But it comes from manipulation, not from who earns the money. A healthy relationship built on trust and mutual respect, should prevent this.' He said he doesn't think its fair to label traditional masculine values as 'toxic' and he simply wants to 'provide, protect and lead with strength'. The podcaster added that there were 'too many weak men out there' and that's how 'toxic femininity' — which he defined as hyper-independent women — was born. 'Men and women are equal, absolutely. But we are not the same. Pretending we are strips away our natural strengths and creates confusion instead of connection,' he said. 'I respect your view, I just don't share it. And I know not everyone will agree with mine, but that's okay. I'm not here to please everyone. I just stand by what I believe, with respect.' Henshaw called the response 'disappointing' and wanted the clip taken down.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Why not?': Influencer defends parenting detail
One of the women behind one of Australia's biggest health and wellness brands has called out a troll who made a dig at her over a small parenting detail. Steph Claire Smith, who is currently pregnant with her second child, recently shared a TikTok where son Harvey, four, was touching her belly. She said he loved touching her pregnant tummy or seeing it uncovered — but it was a tiny detail on her boy's hand in the sweet image that sparked a 'ridiculous' debate. 'Why's his nails painted,' someone asked, with three skull emojis. Smith, who runs Kic with Laura Henshaw, said she initially wasn't going to respond but she couldn't believe it was a conversation still being had. 'If my son, a four-year-old boy, wants to have his nails painted there's nothing wrong with that,' she said. The popular influencer said she assumed the comment was negative judging by the use of emojis accompanying it. 'I just think this is absolutely ridiculous. The reason his nails are painted are because he wanted them painted,' she said. 'In fact, he's always asked me for his nails to be painted. He is the only male in my life that appreciates when I get my nails done.' Smith said Harvey is always curious about the colour she picks, and loves when she gets a 'fun' one. She said he prefers anything pink, sparkly and bright. The last few weeks, Harvey has wanted multiple colours. 'Why wouldn't I do that,' she said. Many social media users agreed with Smith, defending her for allowing Harvey to paint his nails. 'It's weird that these people can't think from a child's point of view … of course getting nails painted looks like fun, it's not a gender thing it becomes a gender thing because society makes it one,' one social media user said. Another added: 'A boy in my class had his nails painted pink today and NOT ONE kid made a comment. Can adults do the same.' 'YEP!!!! My boy wants his nails painted all the time. ï¸�He loves motor bikes, nails and even asked daycare today to paint them,' one said. Another commented: 'LET KIDS BE KIDS. DON'T SEXUALISE OR GENDERISE CRAP.' 'My husband has started painting his nails because he loves to do it with our daughters and he's actually loved it so much he asks them if they want to do it now,' one said. One social media user added: 'My son had his toenails painted recently and the amount of odd looks and questions from even family members was mind boggling. He asked and I didn't even hesitate! He loved them!' 'Both my boys always wanted their nails painted when I had mine done. They're 16 and 9 now. They're fine. Hate this attitude, I got the same and also about when they had longer hair. They wanted it! Let kids be what they want,' added another. But, some were less than kind. 'It's scary how many of you think this is fine. God help our world,' one said. Another added: 'Y'all confusing your kids. And wanna act like people calling it out are the worst people ever. Get a grip.'
News.com.au
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
checking out with steph claire smith
Steph Claire Smith wears many hats – she's an influencer with over 1.5 million followers across her socials, podcast host, co-founder of successful fitness brand Kic, wife and soon-to-be mum of two. The 31-year-old recently shared some snaps of her 36-week baby bump, with fans flooding the comments to call her 'stunning' and 'beautiful.' We caught up with the Melbourne-based entrepreneur to chat through her latest obsessions – from go-to activewear and budget-friendly beauty hacks to the iconic skincare product she's sworn by for a decade. WHAT'S YOUR BEST 'MUM HACK' PURCHASE? 'One of the products that I've used basically every day since my son has been on solids, is the Subo bottle. You can put oats in there, smoothies or any kind of half liquid. It's no mess, hands free for me and he loves it.' WHAT'S CURRENTLY ON YOUR WISHLIST? 'I'm trying to find my new daily bag. One that fits my drink bottle, my laptop, and everything in between … but needs to still look cool with everything I wear.' The Brighton Neoprene Tote Bag, $69.96 (down from $99.95) at The Iconic Everyday Small Tote, $135 from July WHAT'S YOUR GO-TO ACTIVEWEAR? 'I love wearing STAX.' 'My favourite runners are the New Balance, 1080 v14s. They honestly feel like running on clouds.' WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE HEADPHONES TO WORK OUT IN? 'I exercise in my AirPods, but I also really love going for runs with nothing in my ears. I really like to listen to the sounds around me when I'm on my walks or runs. People think that it's torturous but I like it.' WHAT PRODUCTS ARE IN YOUR MAKEUP BAG? 'I keep my makeup routine pretty simple, it's got to be quick and easy. So it's just Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter as my really light daily foundation.' 'My favourite lip balm is Tatcha, it's in a little tub and it's so good.' The Kissu Lip Mask, $29 at Tatcha 'I'll brush my eyebrows up with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow gel … the best.' ' … and then just some blush, which is actually by Outside Beauty. It's a beautiful lip to cheek pot and that's my daily look.' Lip to Cheek, $22.50 (down from $45) at Outside Beauty and Skincare WHAT PRODUCTS ARE IN YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? 'I try to keep my skincare routine pretty basic. One of my favourite cleansers is by Liberty Bell. It's a really nice gentle cleanser.' 'My favourite exfoliator is a rice powder that you just pour out and add a bit of water.' 'I continuously find myself going back to the Clinique Moisture Surge, it's been in my skincare routine for 10 years.' WHAT'S YOUR BEST UNSEXY BEAUTY HACK? 'The Conserving Beauty Pimple Patches. You only leave them on for like 10 – 15 minutes. But the active ingredients actually heals your skin and works on the pimple. They're like no pimple patch I've ever used before. I'm fully converted.' WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE AFFORDABLE BEAUTY BUY? 'Dove's original body wash. I feel like I grew up using it and it's just familiar smells and everything … it's the cheapest product I use.' Dove Triple Moisturising Body Wash, $7.64 (down from $17) Amazon Australia WHAT PRODUCTS ARE YOU USING ON YOUR HAIR? 'I love Eleven's Deep Clean Shampoo. It's for really dirty hair. I sweat a lot so that's my favourite shampoo.' ELEVEN Australia Deep Clean Clarifying Shampoo, $31.95 at Adore Beauty ' … and then I just use the GHD heat protectant if I'm going to be doing my hair with anything hot.' GHD Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray, $36.80 (down from $46) at GHD 'I love the GHD Duet Blowdry. It's like a blow dry brush in one so I can get my hair looking smooth and amazing in 15 minutes. It's so good.' WHAT ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT? 'Zoe Foster-Blake's Things Will Calm Down Soon. It's such an incredible story. She's done a really good job at encapsulating all the different challenges you can face as a founder.' Things Will Calm Down Soon by Zoe Foster Blake, $23.55 (down from $32.99) at Amazon Australia THREE THINGS YOU'D TAKE TO A DESERT ISLAND? 'A lip balm because my lips are just notoriously dry.' 'I would take something to draw like pencils because I feel like I'd want to be creative in some way.' ' … and photos of my family.'
